Chương 137: Fortune preserve me

As Kite sat atop the boulder, he was currently quite busy marveling at the world around him. Even two days after reaching silver-rank, his senses still felt so keen and fresh. That he took in everything all around him at once probably helped to add to the intensity of the experience, but unlike when he was back at iron rank and trying to get used to his newly advanced perception power, this time his mind could process the impressions with ease.

Be it the wind dancing across the scattered boulders of the area, the silky sensation of Glint's fins as he idly played with the silky membranes or his friends doing battle a little bit away. He could sense the question through his bond with Glint as she too was regarding them; Dragonfly and Gold working in brutal tandem to deal with the ferocious feline monster they were currently fighting.

"No, little beauty, they are doing just fine. And believe it or not, we could reach them quite fast now, should we prove to be needed." Kite noted. If he focused, it was almost as if his companions moved slower as Kite's own perception sped up somewhat. Since Kite's ascension to silver rank, he had been thoroughly relegated to observer and emergency assistance, as he both needed to consolidate his new state of existence and leave as much challenge to his friends as possible.

"Still, it is a bit boring not to be in there with them, close to the beating heart of the battle," he mused, returning his focus to the carp. Her scales had always been lustrous, but these last two days, her beauty had reached ridiculous proportions. While Kite knew that his own appearance had improved markedly with the rank up, Glint's change had gone from anyone with eyes calling her pretty to her glittering motions almost gaining a hypnotic feel, such was their grace and luster.

But while the carp had ranked up alongside him, as was only proper through their bond, there was still something incomplete about her aura. The rank itself was there, but Kite still got the sense of a vessel waiting to be filled. That Glint's appetite for the scales of her ancestor had reignited with a fervor was clear indication as to what was missing.

"I suppose that we both shouldn't be too complacent. I have powers to master and equipment to upgrade, and you, little beauty, have scales to find. What wonder will you show me, once we find enough of them?" Kite mused, remembering the startling transformation at iron rank when Glint had gained the ability to change her shape. Kite's bond with Glint was in some ways an ordinary one and in others a bit unique, probably due to it being an ability granted by a racial gift evolution rather than an essence power.

Unlike those with said powers, Kite's ability conferred the ability to bond with what he assumed was any magical creature eligible, but did not otherwise facilitate this bonding in any other way. Someone with an essence power could use a ritual to call appropriate partners, and said partner would grow along with them as they advanced.

While he hoped to never find out, Kite had so far theorized that, should tragedy strike and Glint perished or chose to leave him, he would have to befriend another familiar the old-fashioned way. And while Glint ranked up along with him, she still seemed to need the scales through which her species usually progressed to empower and awaken her innate magic. While this left quite a lot of work ahead of them, Kite did not fret overly much. They should have time, after all. Quite a lot of it, in fact.

"Might have to issue a proper bounty with the guild though. And ask Walker to keep an extra eye out." There was quite a lot Kite wished to do now that he had reached the vaunted silver rank, after all. The climb towards the heavens never ceased, and neither did his mortal projects these days. But those would have to wait as well, because if the gods were kind, he would not be the only silver-ranker returning to Gilded after this trip.

"So… the Pathbreaker actually went ahead and did it," Marten said to Desdemona after watching the fresh silver-ranker leave the administration building. The pair had even heard the rumor before the group's return from their latest set of contracts, as word traveled quickly. While there were many more silver-rankers in Convergence than up in backwaters such as Gilded, it still wasn't enough of them to allow a new one any measure of anonymity.

The leonid woman looked pleased, giving Marten a grin that told him that she had indeed told him so.

"So?" he prodded her, ignoring the jibe that Desdemona's gaze had contained.

"You talked for a bit. What did he want, except for more contracts?"

"What, you think my charming company is not enough?" the leonid asked, mock hurt playing over her features. Marten's flat look was apparently answer enough, as she continued with a snort.

"Kite wanted to order some materials. Silver-ranked quintessence, to be specific. Echo, myriad, adept and might, among others."

"Pricey."

"Well, you know what silver-ranked contracts pay. He can afford it. I've heard that ranking up does mean a lot of costs, especially for those with familiars. Or maybe a growth item?"

"I did hear something about him having a looting power as well," Marten admitted.

"So you have been listening!"

"Hard not to. Once he hit silver, rumors started going wild that he was some kind of epic duelist too."

"Ooo, that sure will have the locals in a hurry to challenge him. I wonder if I'll get to officiate some more of those clashes?" As they returned to work, Marten still couldn't help but feel that Desdemona was way too excited about the prospect.

"I still have trouble getting over how you look now," Dragonfly noted, reaching out to poke Kite's nose where he lay beside her. The group being back in the city meant that they treated themselves to some proper lodgings, with no one raising any complaints after weeks spent out in the wilderness. While the magical pavilions sure made camping convenient, they were still a far cry from a proper bed. At least in the price range of the group which had previously contained only bronze-rankers.

"I admit that it is still odd to see myself in the mirror these last few days," Kite admitted.

"Especially the eyes, I'd say."

"Oh, I agree," Dragonfly said, leaning over to properly look at them.

"You always had this brown areas around your pupils. Back at iron, it gave them a nice hint of gold. Now, they seem to be almost gleaming in their intensity."

"Is it that bad?"

"Kite, you know how silver-rankers look. By now, you probably wouldn't be able to look bad even if you actively tried. Gods know that I'm not complaining. Or anyone else with eyes. Didn't you see how the maids almost collided with each other while staring at you?"

"I thought that was them looking at Glint."

"Well… You have a point. But you were both there, so the poor girls can't really be blamed. I wonder how I will look at silver."

"Is the world really ready for my ardent Dragonfly ascending?" Kite asked pensively, earning himself a playful swipe.

"What? I have to consider public safety. With greater ranks comes greater responsibility. It would not be fair to the public if your inner fire stole so much attention so as to start causing major incidents."

"Well, a girl can hope. Especially when traveling with Serene. Gods know that those celestines don't make it easy for the rest of us."

"Trust me, Dragonfly. Your presence has always been a beacon to everyone with eyes and sense. You don't have to be a celestine to look as if you have been wrought directly from the heavens."

"Kite! That's still… Gah! Unfair. I hope blushing goes away at silver rank."

"I, for one, do not. The look has always suited you." Iridescent Bell, inner disciple of the Perfected Step sect, waited as patiently as she could as Soul sat meditating in her garden. Bell knew that the celestine had noticed her, but apparently she wasn't yet done. From most other higher rankers, the gesture would have been a clear show of dominance; to force even the daughter of a sect elder to wait until she deemed the moment fit to address her.

But Bell had known Soul for a long time now, and this was truly only what it looked like; Soul wasn't done yet, and would address Bell when she was. Progression and improvement in every way would alway remain her priority over social niceties. So the bronze-ranker waited patiently, even though the news she had received that morning left her tense with anticipation.

"You're excited, Bell," Soul noted, breaking open an eye as she started to slowly rise from her meditation.

"Are you really that eager to have me defeat someone for you?"

"I- Soul, it is for the good of the sect. Our reputation-""Bell, don't bother with that. You and your father have been good to me and let me do my thing in peace. I don't mind showing the world a bit of the 'might of the sect' if that makes life easier for you." Bell's first impulse was to once again object, especially at Soul's clear sarcasm when speaking about the sect's might and reputation. But she was her father's daughter, and knew when to ignore a jibe as the result seemed to be what she was wishing for.

"The sect will look fondly upon your contributions. And you will have my gratitude," Bell said, unable to help her smile. This Pathbreaker might think himself high and mighty, but Soul of the Perfected Step sect, blessed by Warrior, will show him the humility he had so thoroughly been lacking.

"Once more, I am impressed by all of your hard work," Kite noted when the group gathered outside the administration hall.

"So far, it still looks to be a close one." Another three contracts for a silver-ranked monster had been completed, and Will had made a particularly good showing against one of them; a kind of flying toad which had suffered quite a lot from the elf scion bringing plenty of sharp, pointed object against its vast, bulbous membranes with which it flew.

"Can't let you stay ahead of us for too long, mighty Pathbreaker," Dragonfly retorted.

"But know that I will definitely be the next one to ascend."

"Pah, as if I would be outdone by a commoner once more? Kite is at least a bit famous, so being outdone by a twice conqueror of the Queen's gate won't lose me any face. But losing to you? Inconceivable," Will countered.

"I, for one, will follow the song of the goddess at the pace that was meant by the heavens," Serene said primly.

"Which, as you can hear, means that I will be victorious." As one, the group turned to Gold, the stoic man having remained silent. At their attention, he looked as if to think for a moment before giving his reply.

"Serene." Kite could only chuckle at Will's and Dragonfly's looks of indignation as the huge man actually broke the stalemate instead of coming up with a boast of his own. His new, improved aura senses had also taken a while to get used to during these last two weeks since his rise to silver rank, but he could sense his friends' progress more clearly, and thought that he knew who of them would be the first to silver rank. But telling would be ruining the fun of their little bet.

"Know that I will vouch for each and every one of you," he instead declared, assuming his most magnanimous look.

"Being second to the Pathbreaker himself, twofold champion of the Jade-Sky gates is no small feat, after all." His attempt was met by a gratifying amount of eyerolls and protests, including a passionate vow of vengeance from Will, before the group went their separate ways for the rest of the day. Will would draft some correspondence to send home to his family while Serene and Gold would visit the local temple of Song again.

This left Dragonfly as Kite's lone, humanoid companion as they, accompanied by Glint, steered their steps towards the trade hall as Kite had gotten the word that the materials which he had ordered had arrived.

"Any good prospects for new equipment yet?" Dragonfly asked him where she walked at his side, finishing off a drumstick the size of her forearm.

"Some, but I will admit that gearing up for silver rank has been harder. Each instance of my loot power takes longer if I want to charge it fully. And, well…" Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"You using all that sweet treasure to hit things instead must really take its toll, no?" Dragonfly noted, filling in the gap.

"The ability has swung the balance of a fight quite a few times so far, so I regret nothing. Except the scolding I might get from Peony when she learns of it." Kite admitted a bit sheepishly. They passed the rest of the way pleasantly chatting, and Kite took the moment to really enjoy the late summer day along with his friend and lover. His silver-ranked perception let him appreciate it all the more, and his expanded vision was completely without strain these days even in the crowded city of Convergence.

Simultaneously, he was taking in the nearby crowds, the mighty, shining spire of the city lord, boat traffic on the river which split the city. Further away, he could even see a procession of some local sect, the full display of uniforms and a banner hinting at official, important business in the city. Convergence was a lot, but unlike the overwhelmed iron ranker who had stumbled through the gates of Gilded those years ago, Kite realized that he had come to like 'a lot'.

But not even the trade hall of the mercantile city had been able to accommodate the different types of quintessence and materials which Kite had needed to order. From his adventures within the gate, Kite had buckets and buckets full of bronze rank quintessences, but the silver-ranked ones left by the rulers were a lot fewer in number. As such, he had needed plenty of silver-ranked echo, myriad and adept quintessence to upgrade his mantle, as well as more echo, might and resonating quintessence to improve his staff.

Even his most forgettable sword, the Veiled One's Decree, was a growth item, although it didn't come close to the quality of his prizes from the gate. To upgrade it to silver rank, which would be its last unless seen to by the original forger or another crafter of appropriate skill, Kite had needed additional discordant, shimmer and smoke quintessence.

"Fortune be praised that I have a lot of quintessence to sell," he thought, still wincing at the cost of it all. Each ranking might feel like a new world, but it also meant a new level of expenses.

"Any thoughts on your own preparations?" Kite asked Dragonfly as they entered the multi-winged building that was the local trade hall, crowded with adventurers. The vast majority were bronze, but Kite's aura picked out five other silver-rankers in the building. There might be more present, who kept their aura tightly withdrawn, but Kite would need to project quite rudely to have a chance to notice.

"Well, thanks to a certain someone, I won't need to worry about a weapon for the near future," Dragonfly noted, indicating the axe Kite had gifted her earlier. The weapon in question, Piece of Heaven, had been the hereditary weapon of the leader of the Descending Star sect before its fall.

"But heavens, there is a lot to consider. Armor would be logical, but I keep going through mine so quickly."

"I'm sure that there will be something worthy of your path," Kite consoled when they drew close to their destination. The runic woman behind the counter looked very happy to see Kite as she started producing different boxes, neatly labeled for convenience.

"- and I do hope that benefactor will accept the small gift I took the liberty of including, and remember my family's humble emporium for your future needs," she said as she finished making one final inventory. Kite had indeed noted the small voucher for a meal at some restaurant labeled the Shimmering Chair.

"Oo, I've seen that place. Guess we know where to go for lunch," Dragonfly said as she read the small card.

"If you can hold off on upgrading, that is."

"No trouble. It took a few hours for the staff to absorb the materials last time, so I imagine that this will be something similar," Kite said as they made their way out.

"I will admit that I am most curious to see what will come of it." But as they exited, one particular thing caught both of their attention at once. At the plaza ahead of the trade hall, the sect procession which Kite had noticed earlier had stopped. All of the disciples present, clad in dark green and black, seemed to scan the crowds, but one woman at the front noticed Kite and Dragonfly immediately.

She did not share the sect uniform, but the person she was currently helping to spot Kite and Dragonfly did; a silver-ranked man who looked to be in his thirties. He had short-cropped brown hair, a neatly trimmed beard and wore an impressively tall hat which looked very formal. At his sides stood two younger women; one bronze-ranker whose brown hair and certain features matched the older man's, and a celestine with amethyst hair.

The former wore proper robes while the latter only had a cloak in the sect's colors swept around her. And as each of the leading trio followed the guide's gaze to lock onto Kite, he realized that he recognized the bronze-ranker, and his heart sank.

"I believe that lunch might get a bit delayed," Kite sighed, as the sect procession once more started up, making its way straight towards them.

"Bell, is that the one? With the tattoos?" Soul asked as the procession of disciples crossed the final stretch of the plaza before the trade hall of the local Adventure Society.

"That is him," Bell confirmed. Laying her eyes upon him immediately confirmed that this Pathbreaker had indeed just reached silver rank. He had been decently handsome before, but silver rank had a tendency of taking people's looks slightly into the surreal.

"Hmm, I like the feel of his aura. Solid, but with a hint of subtle bite to it. I already look forward to seeing how it will hold up," Soul noted, her amethyst eyes now having gained another sliver of focus.

"Remember what I told you about the arms," Bell counseled, but Soul waved it away.

"I know, I know, but testing it out thoroughly for myself will be the only way to really get to know them. Or him for that matter. Speaking of which; looks like your father is about to address him soon. Did he really have to come?"

"He insisted," Bell said, a bit frustrated at the decision herself. This would only dilute her personal involvement as the one who used her influence to make this happen, but her father was one of the sect elders, so it was not her place to deny him anything when it came to the standing of the sect. Having crossed the plaza, the procession came to a halt about ten meters away from the Pathbreaker who, to his credit, had remained where he was after noticing their approach.

While Bell could have enjoyed a scene where he fled, that was in the end not the spectacle she was hoping for. Her father took a step forward and projected his aura outward enough to make sure that no one would overlook his power, but not enough so as to risk startling the lower-rankers too badly.

"I am Iridescent Glass, elder of the Perfected Step sect. We come seeking the one called the Pathbreaker," her father called, his voice easily carrying across the plaza, which had fallen silent at the feel of his aura projection.

"Then you have found him. How can I be of assistance to the elder?" the young man replied, giving a polite bow. Bell thought that she saw a hint of resignation in his face, as if he knew what was to come.

"Excellent. You have recently clashed with an inner disciple of our sect over a contract, a clash which we feel reflects poorly on our reputation and capability. The disciple in question, my daughter, has come seeking the chance to prove to you and the world that our sect is better than that temporary lapse." Bell drew herself up at the words, all part of the agreed upon script. The Pathbreaker, on the other hand, surveyed the gathered sect students warily.

"I… see. But as you can no doubt sense, elder, I have since advanced to silver rank. As your daughter has not, it would hardly be a fair clash for her to prove herself again. I mean no offense, but that would in all probability leave both of us without any additional insight or experience," he said, apparently sensing that there was more to the sect's intentions. The Pathbreaker even projected his aura a little bit further, the solid feel of his aura gently pushing outwards.

Some of the crowd gasped, and the murmuring of the bystanders rose in volume. Still, he did not try to flee or otherwise evade, for which Bell was thankful.

"Ah, then congratulations are in order," Bell's father acknowledged.

"That will indeed mean that my daughter's claim on a rematch will have to wait until she too ascends." Most onlookers present did seem to take this as the end of the exchange, but neither the Pathbreaker or the sect procession had moved, and the elder continued.

"However, the competence of my sect is still in question, and we lose face unless we try to rectify it at once. While the difference in your power is unfortunate, the goddess Fortune has apparently seen fit to bless us with another opportunity." Bell had to give it to her father and his acting skills; to her, he sounded as if this new idea had indeed just struck him.

"There happens to be another inner disciple here, newly ascended to silver rank just like you. Inner disciple Soul is like an adopted daughter to me, you see. Surely, she would be a good replacement to prove our worth?" At the elder's worth, Soul stepped forward, eyes trained on the man that was their quarry. From the looks of things, he had resigned himself to play along.

"So, you would wish to challenge me in place of your fellow disciple?" Bell noted that Soul's interest had only seemed to increase as she had gotten more time to study the man, who looked quite exotic with those odd metal tattoos.

"I, Soul, inner disciple of the Perfected Step sect and blessed by Warrior, challenge you to a clash of paths," the celestine woman said in way of answer, her gaze even starting to look a bit eager.

"Direct, as always," Bell thought at the sudden declaration.

"I see," the Pathbreaker said.

"And what prize would you wager in such a clash?"

"When I win, you will publicly profess the strength of our sect."

"That… is that all?" The man seemed almost perplexed, apparently having expected more. Bell had wanted to demand more as well, to get some thorough retribution for the lost contract. Some resources, at least, but Soul had insisted.

"I may be willing to fight your battles, but I'm not willing to go further than an acknowledgement. Want more? Then become stronger," had been her exact words, and not even Bell's father had been able to change her mind. Not that he had seemed to try very hard, though. Just showing off that the sect was not something to be pushed around while defeating some outcast upstart was plenty, with the added angle that their sect was too wealthy to need the scraps of some sectless loner.

"That is all." Soul confirmed.

"Then, I, Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune, also known as the Pathbreaker, accept your challenge. Should I win, I would like a week of your time for sparring and mutual tempering, to be claimed in the future." His demand had all participants in the sect procession start slightly.

"What kind of demand is that?" Bell thought.

"What would be the point of it? Is there another game played here?" Still, she already knew what Soul's response would be. This was just her kind of thing, after all.

"Then we are in agreement!" the celestine exclaimed quickly, before anyone could interrupt further.

"Come! We go to the sparring areas at once."

"Kite, you seem to find yourself in these kinds of situations way more than is reasonable for one person," Dragonfly said to him as she walked by his side. The pair was currently trailing in the wake of the sect procession, with not a small number of curious onlookers trailing them in turn.

"As soon as I saw them, I figured that something like this would happen," Kite said a bit helplessly.

"Their demands weren't completely unreasonable, and they kept things public. So at least there shouldn't be too much risk of foul plots."

"Too reasonable. It's suspicious in and of itself," Dragonfly grumbled.

"When did sect people start to focus on reason?"

"There is a first for everything?"

"Not this time, I think," Dragonfly continued, looking suspiciously towards the procession in front of them.

"They're up to something."

"Then may Fortune keep me. And allow me to break through any foul intent this time as well," Kite said just as they reached the part of the Adventure Society campus which housed the different sparring areas; walled off arenas covered in protective arrays and with some space for a small number of onlookers.

While Convergence was wealthy enough to afford a small mirage chamber, it was still rarely used for spontaneous clashes such as this, both due to cost and the fact that making a reservation at the chamber required good, and often expensive, connections. The sect elder sent a pair of disciples off to make the arrangements, and not long after they returned with an Adventure Society functionary in tow. One that Kite recognized.

"Desdemona," he greeted, causing the functionary to perk up.

"Oh, hello Kite! It's you again, huh? Maybe you are a troublemaker after all?"

"Goodness, I hope not," Kite replied, and was about to continue when the sect elder stepped into the conversation, apparently not one for waiting.

"My disciples said that you have volunteered to officiate the clash, functionary," the older man said, giving only the barest of recognition to the iron-ranker's status within the society.

"I have, elder. It will be my pleasure," Desdemona agreed happily, not noticing or not caring about the attempted slight.

"If the clashing parties would please take their positions and announce themselves, we shall begin." The sect procession gathered at one side of the sparring arena, the biggest one available to this campus so as to facilitate the potential of a pair of silver-rankers, while Dragonfly went to the other side as Kite's lone supporter. As he took his position, having taken some time to don a set of armor, Kite took some time to truly get a look at his opponent.

The celestine woman shrugged out of her sect cloak without any further fanfare, revealing her unarmored form. Her porcelain-white skin was only covered by a simple chest wrapping and a pair of very form-fitting silk pants, leaving little of her lean, muscled body to the imagination. Amethyst eyes had fixed themselves to Kite's all the while she started stretching, her aura questing outward to his.

Kite couldn't help but shudder slightly at the feel of it; carrying the sense of a sword raised to strike, the creaking of a bow drawn to its limit and the surge of motion as bodies moved into conflict.

"I may be the armored one, but somehow I get the feeling that I am the one underdressed," Kite thought to himself, looking down at the rather plain suit of silver-ranked armor his looting power had produced. The half-plate suit was nothing special enchantment-wise, but had a combination of additional durability and good self-repair which had made Kite use it until something more suited to his path could be produced. At that moment, the armor felt inadequate to the extreme.

Looking back up, he saw his foe smirk in amusement, as his thoughts must have been clear on his face. Kite had expected a bit more haughtiness, but saw only expectation in those intense eyes. And he was unsure if that was better or worse.

"So, the participants are gathered!" Desdemona called with gusto from where she stood to the side in a booth with additional protective arrays as she would be closer to the actual combat.

"Will the clashing parties confirm their will to fight?"

"I, Soul, inner disciple of the Perfected Step sect and blessed by Warrior, challenge the Pathbreaker to a clash of paths. In victory, I will claim his official acknowledgement of our sect's might," Soul said, almost blurting it out as if eager to get on with what was to come.

"I, Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune, also known as the Pathbreaker, accept said challenge. Should I win, I will claim a week of sparring and learning from my opponent, to be called in at a future date."

"Great! Then may you both find the tempering you are looking for in this conflict!" Desdemona called, the leonid really seeming to be getting into the spirit of things. She made a dramatic pause, looking between the duelists, before finally continuing.

"Let this clash of paths… begin!"

"Ward!" A pair of silver-ranked auras clashed a mere moment before the actual contenders did; a spiritual detonation followed by a crackling sound like glass shattering. One moment, Soul had stood at her starting position, and the next she had almost been upon Kite, only his silver-ranked perception further augmented by his mantle allowing Kite to react properly.

Now, the pair stood frozen for a split second, the faint shimmer around Soul's right arm having just unraveled after the limb had pierced through both of Kite's barriers in a flash. It was only the touch of Pattern-Shattering counter which had finally dispersed the transcendent light which her fist had emanated a mere instant before. As Soul's smile only widened a bit in response, Kite once more got that sinking feeling.

"Fortune preserve me. Because I might be in trouble."