Chương 142: A place to return to

It had been a long time since Kite last entered the temple of Fortune in Gilded. While he had often invoked the goddess' name during his whole career, he realized that the last actual visit was before he set out to conquer the Jade-Sky gate at iron rank.

"Hopefully, the goddess will not feel too scorned," Kite thought to himself as he bowed in respect to a priest in the temple, symbols of bounty, affluence and prosperity decorating its interior, even if it was with the worthy austerity of generations building something grand upon the work of their ancestors. Like the last time, he was shown into one of the many private alcoves for prayer, and sat down in a meditative position on the mat in front of a statue of the goddess.

This particular sculpt was carrying a basket overflowing with fruit while a golden cat perched at her shoulder. Before closing his eyes, Kite brought out the goddess' token; still unmarred and looking exactly like the day he received it those years ago. Keeping the token in his hand, Kite began his prayer.

"Lady Fortune, I come to you in gratitude. Recent years have been kind to me and mine, your providence a great part in our prosperity, which I will never forget. As I set out to new horizons, expanding the guild and building myself a home, I hope that you will continue to have a kind eye towards our efforts. And please let us carry your blessing as we seek that which might lay beneath the surface, ending strife and replanting those fields with your bounty."

He fell silent, thinking of what to say next, when a pleasant female voice echoed gently through his mind. The goddess did not manifest, yet her presence was both vast and subtle as Fortune once more answered Kite, like she had done those years ago, the sliver of her attention highlighting his very existence in a way unfelt outside the touch of the divine." Your gratitude has been heard, little one, yet partially misguided."

"My apologies, Lady, I did not mean to exclude your fellow divines. Surely, they have shown me kindness as well," Kite began, but halted his words as he felt, rather than saw, a smile from the goddess'" While I am sure that they will appreciate your earnestness, I was not referring to my brothers and sisters. But I will take a cue from Knowledge and instead present to you a question, little on. Why is there no luck essence?" The question left Kite quite taken aback, not expecting that avenue of inquiry.

But when a goddess asked you something, it was best to assume that there was a meaning behind it. So he gave it a good thought, taking his time as he did not want to risk giving offense with an off-hand answer to a deity.

"I… am unsure. There is the prosperity confluence, no? But that isn't really luck, not exclusively. I am sorry, my Lady, but this humble one does not know," he eventually admitted, choosing honesty. Even at silver rank, his mind felt abuzz just with that tiny shadow of the deity's attention, which wasn't the best foundation for philosophical discourse." Prosperity is indeed close, maybe the closest you come to it in this world.

But circumstance and happenstance will ever be the tricksters, beyond even the gods to banish. Some say that fate is fickle, others that it is absolute. Me? I call it the boundaries within which we may play our hands, build our foundations and try to tilt the scales of karma and happenstance to our favor. Think about that as well as my aspects, little one; of prosperity, bounty and affluence. And of my sister, Karma. And ponder my question again."

Not wanting to disappoint a goddess, Kite did his best, even sinking into the patterns of his combat meditation to bring clarity even when his mind was abuzz. This might have caused more of his aura to slip from his control, but hopefully it would not frighten anyone nearby too badly. The seconds ticked by, turning to minutes. And there, in the relative calm of his mind while he basked in the divine attention in all its terrifying glory, Kite believed that he had found an answer.

"Is… could it be that there is no luck, at least not in the way we speak of it? That such happenstance is not affected by magic, but rather the choices we make up to that point? To build good karma, to lay the foundation for future success, to cultivate connections, make preparations and seize opportunities? To share bounty and thus receive bounty in turn?"

While he felt that this was only part of something larger, much more abstract and even beyond him, Kite still felt relieved when he felt the goddess smile once more.

"That is certainly an answer worth some more pondering, little one. I suggest that you keep it in your thoughts as you go about all of these projects of yours. And know that you, by spreading what you have earned in order to build something for the future, have continued to earn my approval. Walk with Fortune, little one. But with your given name, I suppose that you always have." With those words, the world came crashing in upon Kite again, that deep sense of existence replaced with the impressions of the mundane.

Kite's whole body still felt tingly, but something deeper felt almost exhausted. Rising to his feet, Kite bowed again towards the statue before leaving. On the way out, a young acolyte bowed to Kite.

"I hope that you may continue to feel our Lady's gaze, honored silver-ranker." Kite stopped, turning to the young man. Maybe seventeen years old, a single essence colored his spirit with the feeling of thriving plants.

"I hope so too," Kite said. Then he reached into a pouch at his side and layed a round stone the size of a fist in the acolyte's hands, still cupped as he was straightening out of his bow.

"She has ever given me good advice, after all." Then he departed from the temple, his expanded vision revealing the stunned young man staring at the awakening stone of growth which Kite had given him, one that should resonate well with the plant essence as well as his divine calling. Then the acolyte fell to his knees in grateful prayer on the spot.

"Glint, you are an absolute treat. And so pretty. Who is the prettiest fish-dragon in the lands? You are!" Kite smiled at Dragonfly's cooing over the preening carp while he watched the enchanted boat finish the process of shrinking down to the size of a toy at the side of the road. The process had been going on for a few minutes, but when he sensed the magic inside wind down, Kite bent down and picked it up gingerly.

While not as heavy as the full-sized one, a normal-ranker would probably be unable to budge the nifty construct.

"I am still amazed at how quickly we can make this trip now," he said aloud.

"Back at early bronze, it was well over a week, albeit with some stops for monster hunting. Being able to make the trip between Gilded and Bastion within a day is very convenient. That means that we'll be back well before Serene and Will are departing."

"I only stopped briefly at Bastion with Master Force back in the day," Dragonfly said, looking over towards the city walls in the distance.

"It will be nice to actually get to explore the city, too. Once I'm done lending some extra weight to you during your meeting with the city lady. I'll do my best to be very intimidating."

"While I appreciate the gesture, I hope that it won't be needed," Kite said with a chuckle.

"With Vista lending his support as well as my aunties, I'm sure that she will be quite amenable."

"Five silver-rankers with a united purpose does seem like a rather intimidating prospect," Dragonfly agreed. They entered the city in short order, Kite sharing what he knew of the different neighborhoods. Outwardly, Bastion looked thriving, but from what Braid and Wander had told him during their more recent time spent together, the small internal trade war had been quite vicious at times.

It was calming down now, however, and had left some changes in the local power hierarchy, noticeable in that the Relentless family compound had expanded quite a lot since Kite's first time visiting. As it turned out, Vista had too. As they met the young master of the Relentless family, having pushed into silver rank a year before, Kite could feel Dragonfly stiffening slightly at his side when they were led into the room where the famed Whirlwind Warrior waited for them.

Vista had always been a very beautiful man, with finely sculpted features, black hair and slightly slanted eyes. As was common with reaching silver-rank, he now had an intensity to him which was compelling to most who laid eyes upon him. And as a woman favoring male company, Dragonfly was hit a bit harder than Kite. She did her best to hide it, but when she noticed Kite's teasing smile, her glare could have ignited a less powerful man on the spot.

"Vista. It is good to see you again. And you too, Whimmy!" Kite called in greeting across the lush garden where the young master awaited within the shelter of a stone gazebo.

"Kite, or should I say Pathbreaker?" Vista called in turn while finishing off a snack in one dignified motion.

"The rumors were only in their infancy when you were last here to grace me with a visit. From the sound of things now, you might as well have reached gold rank already. To think that I would have an unbeatable duelist as company all this time without knowing. Were you going easy on me all the time I won our spars?"

"Just Kite will still do fine, thank you," Kite replied as he and Dragonfly sat down.

"As of my dueling… I'll have to introduce you to Soul sometime. It might do the great Whirlwind Warrior some good to have a humbling experience or two. But as for a more prompt introduction, my companion here is Dragonfly over Sun's Reflection."

"Greetings, young master," Dragonfly intoned in turn, sounding almost distracted as she tried not to look too closely at the man.

"Ah, Kite has told me a lot about you during his stay. He speaks highly of you, too." Vista noted, even though Kite noted that the young master's habit of categorizing people still remained as he quickly shifted his attention back to Kite, having probably sorted Dragonfly in as some kind of hanger-on to Kite. While it grated on him a bit, Kite did have to admit that it might be for the best, at least while Dragonfly got used to the aesthetic appeal of the young master.

"It's good that you reached out, too, Kite," Vista continued.

"Through my connections, I have done what I can to make sure that the land around the astral space remains available. But as usual, someone noticed the attention, and the opportunists came crawling out to see if there was a prize to snatch."

"Should we expect trouble tomorrow then?"

"Some, I expect, but nothing a little show of force can't solve, I am sure," Vista said, waving the question off.

"Remember the Stoic family?"

"Has Stoic Boar been interfering again?" Kite asked, incredulously. He had thought that he and the enterprising young master wouldn't have to cross paths again, but perhaps he had counted his blessings too early.

"No, but their patron has," Vista explained.

"The Stoics have long served the Lustrous family, with the young master Stoic actually being allowed to marry into one of the more removed family branches in the wake of your stay here. While the man himself isn't involved, the main branch of the Lustrous family has been entreating with the city lady to purchase the land in question recently, probably out of nothing more than curiosity and wanting to seize any opportunity that my family may have glimpsed there."

"But so far she hasn't allowed it?"

"No, not since we started dropping hints of whose interests me and my family were truly representing. Apparently, city lady Cyan has been quite curious about you, and it sure helped that your two most esteemed foster parents have arrived ahead of you."

"Then I have more reason to thank your family," Kite said, bowing.

"Oh, don't be too grateful. Father hasn't even protested me spending time and clout on this project, which leaves me suspicious that he will have ambitions of his own. Probably sees this as cultivating connections and strengthening us. If you go unmarried for too long, Kite, you might start receiving proposals from some cousin of mine."

"While I hate to disappoint my allies, I do not foresee myself becoming an eligible bachelor any time soon," Kite said, while reaching out beneath the table to gently squeeze Dragonfly's hand.

"But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I assume that you have a suggestion for how to go about tomorrow's meeting? I will be in your care once more." Flourish of Cyan, city lady of Bastion, was a woman who had always valued a respectable distance to the players around her; remaining aloof from most of the games and politicking in her city to retain her bird's eye view over goings on and arranging for the long-term pieces to fall the way she hoped or to prepare to adapt for shifts beyond her control.

But during the last few months, she had been constantly pulled off her metaphorical lofty perch as the Lustrous and Relentless families had both started throwing their weight around in regards to a piece of land in the city's southern territories. Said land was rather unremarkable except for the astral space, which was in turn mostly a nuisance.

The city lady's initial response had been to just distance herself from the matter entirely and let the families fight it out however they wished, but when it came to her knowledge that the interested party was in truth the rumored adventurer responsible for Kite's Refuge, foster child to not one but two skilled silver-ranked crafters who had moved to her city and named the Pathbreaker at bronze rank, Cyan had to admit that even her curiosity was piqued enough for her to actually officiate in the matter.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. This had led to said meeting, and Cyan had to admit that it was amusing to see the delegates from the Lustrous family start squirming a bit when it turned out their opposition brought five silver-rankers to their one.

Lustrous Blade, oldest son of the master of the family, didn't look quite so self-assured any more when young master Relentless, the Pathbreaker, one of his companions and the two craftswomen Dove and Crow all sat lined up across the long meeting table. All of this, Cyan saw through one of the invisible eyes from her vision confluence, and after letting those gathered stew for another minute in silence, she gestured for her guards to slide the doors open.

"We rise to greet Flourish of Cyan, city lady of Bastion!" One of the guards called in a formal voice as Cyan entered, with the gathered people all rising and bowing in greeting.

"So…" Cyan began, drawing out the pause as she sat down in her high-backed chair at the end of the table.

"You are the parties in contention for the lands around the southernmost astral space? The one with the purple desert?"

"That is right, honored city lady," Lustrous Blade answered quickly, trying to seize the initiative.

"My family has long had plans for the region even though the recent trouble has left us unable to expand like before." Cyan knew for certain that the statement was a bold-faced lie, but that was of little consequence. Either party could claim ancestral intent to the place for all she cared. She was more interested in what she and the city could gain from showing favor to either party.

"I find this an apt moment to point out that the Lustrous family's attention seem to have been quite lacking then, as me and my dear friend Kite here found the place overrun with blood cultists when we visited during our contracts a while back," Vista noted, the accusation veiled in a pleasant tone.

"My friend here found that he quite enjoyed the lands and the astral space, the latters isolation being an excellent way to mute one's senses in order to reach deeper into meditation. As he is a skilled warrior and dedicated adventurer, I have no doubt that the presence of him and his most competent family and friends here would ensure the safety and prosperity of our southern territories from this day and onward." While Cyan remained neutral, she inwardly nodded.

"Straight to the gains for me and the city rather than claiming personal rights. Young master Relentless remains a direct one," she thought, before speaking.

"That does sound like it would calm the minds of both me and my subjects. I assume that the honored Pathbreaker here has the funds available as well?"

"Honored lady," Lustrous Blade broke in, "when it comes to funds, surely you know that my family would be able to vastly outbid a trio of adventurers, no matter how skilled they might be in their trade. If it pleases you, I could have our scribes draft an offer straight away-" Cyan silenced him with a wave.

"While funds are always welcome, young master Lustrous, running a city means that I need to take more into consideration. The defense of the land, both in ordinary times and especially during the surges, will always remain a priority. What would the Lustrous family offer in way of protection?"

She wanted to see if she could force their contention into the martial realms, as it led to more interesting outcomes for Cyan's own long term goals, especially if the Lustrous family had to spread its resources thinner in the years to come. And she had to admit that this rumored Pathbreaker intrigued her.

"Lady, do not doubt that the Lustrous family would protect our own lands and do our duty. Surely you witnessed my own uncle do battle in the harbor during the last surge?" Cyan had indeed seen it, as she could see most things within the city if she only knew where to look and could be bothered to do it. The uncle in question, Lustrous Shield, was a former adventurer who had indeed done his duty.

But he and Lustrous Blade were currently the only two silver-rankers who came close to active adventurers within the family, the rest being core-users. The Pathbreaker himself took this opportunity to speak, his tone polite even though their contents were less so.

"While I cast no aspersions on the former career of Lustrous Shield, I would stand by the claim that the region would be better served by actual, active adventurers. Not only would the compound we build be a home for me and my family, but also for my visiting companions and the adventurers of the Autumn Wanderer's guild, which I had a part in founding."

"We have heard of your guild, outcast. The Lustrous family is not impressed," the young master countered with a sneer.

"Such outlander concepts should do well to stay where they belong. Our family has connections within the local sects, and could easily match any warriors you would bring, brought up in the true way of warriors. Surely you must not allow this erosion of tradition, city lady?" Cyan noted that, while the man's words were harsh, he was floundering. It was at least two generations ago since members of the family had joined the local sect, and their ties would not be as deep as he claimed.

But there was an easy way to test this, and Cyan would prefer that alternative as it both left her more removed from the actual outcome, both alternatives being something she could work with, as well as letting her view this Pathbreaker in action.

"If that is the sentiment of both sides, then why are you here using words?" Cyan said, looking to both sides of the table.

"It is clear that this conflict lies more in your claims of being the most competent protectors of said land rather than your resources. Let your paths decide, as decreed by the queen. Choose three warriors to represent the Lustrous family, as will the Pathbreaker choose those to represent his interests."

"If I may be so rude to interject, city lady, there is no need," the Pathbreaker said with a respectful tone.

"Oh?" Cyan asked, curious once more.

"The Lustrous family should indeed choose three, but I need no more than my own path. I will even let them choose the order in which they will face me," the young silver-ranker said. His voice was still calm, but Cyan could feel that his aura was like an impenetrable wall, solid to the point that it was the world around it which started to break down instead. And his words seemed to have the intended effect, as Lustrous Blade scoffed.

"See, city lady, such insolence and bravado. The Lustrous family will show you the truth of his hubris. I'll even take the first bout myself. There won't be a need for a second. Blades at dusk, Pathbreaker. Be glad that the city lady is watching, since you are already courting death with your lack of humility."

As the delegation from the Lustrous family left, no doubt to arrange for the participants of the upcoming bouts, Cyan did note a slight smile from both the Pathbreaker himself and young master Relentless, while the young woman at the Pathbreaker's side couldn't contain her grin.

"Well, Kite, at least there's only three of them this time." Dragonfly said, obvious before she seemed to remember herself, bowing towards Cyan.

"City lady. Please excuse us." The five silver-rankers left as well, and Cyan was left alone in the meeting room, where she cast her sight outwards and followed the two parties as they made their way to prepare. And she was quite certain that the Pathbreaker had gotten just the outcome which he had hoped for.

"Dear?" Dove asked her wife where they both stood at the side of an open stretch of beach outside Bastion. The young master Relentless and Dragonfly were there with them as well, along with a small contingent of the Lustrous family.

"Yes, love?" Crow retorted, eyes flickering to keep track of all the attacks and barriers which flickered across the stretch of beach which was the dueling grounds suggested by the Lustrous family. Silver-ranked combat needed more space than the city could readily offer, after all.

"I think it is time to properly admit that our little Kite has surpassed us."

"I believe so too. His martial technique has grown beyond my ability to properly evaluate, much less provide advice."

"Don't you think it more pertinent to start with those arms of his? Because it certainly looks like young master Lustrous is having a rather bad time at the moment. Can you imagine trying to keep up with all those attacks while simultaneously fighting to get past the barriers?"

"Our little Kite sure has grown. I would bet that this will be over in two minutes at most."

"I think it will be less than that. Just over one," Dove countered, ignoring the foul looks cast their way by the contingent of the Lustrous family. The pair were talking softly, but as all present were at least bronze rank, that didn't mean that the conversation remained a private one.

"Winner gets to design their part of the compound we will build first?"

"It's a deal!" Dove confirmed. One of the nearby bronze-rankers, some outer member of the Lustrous family, had apparently had enough at that moment.

"I would recommend the two of you to show some respect, or you might find your businesses struggling in the future. This duel is far from over," the woman said haughtily.

"I would, in turn, recommend that you reassess that statement," Crow said, not even looking at the woman.

"Because I believe that I just lost our bet. Seems that little Kite has become bolder. Off in the distance, all of Kite's arms became a blur, launching a flurry of dispelling and mana-draining special attacks. Lustrous Blade, still thoroughly on the defensive, did an admirable job of deflecting some of the projected attacks, but there were less and less of the fancy defensive powers shown with each second.

Then, in a spray of sand reaching tens of meters behind him, Kite suddenly shot forwards in a blink, using the stored momentum of his foe's attacks. Walls of force suddenly appeared to box in his opponent as not one, but three weapons trailing blue-tinted dark voids struck simultaneously. From afar, it looked as if young master Lustrous was brutally impaled, his body stiffening before falling limp.

This caused cries of outrage and alarm from the gathered bronze-rankers, with only the young master's silver-ranked uncle and cousin remaining stoically calm.

"Little Kite sure is merciful," Crow noted, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"While the young master will probably be rather sore for a little while, mana fatigue is rather easy to shake off with a pill or two." The older silver ranker only snorted in response, hefting his heavy axe over one shoulder as he made his way over towards Kite. A few attendants came along to drag the unconscious silver-ranker away from the battle, while Kite remained.

"Do not get all arrogant, outcast," Lustrous Shield called, loud enough for all to hear.

"You will soon face me, Lustrous Shield. I've been defending these lands for longer than you have been alive. There will be a lesson here in the impassable gulf between us carved by the experience of decades."

"Although the last three of those decades have been spent managing the family's business here in the city," Vista half-whispered as he leaned over to his companions.

"Still, Lustrous Shield will be in his favored environment here." As the older man with the long, pale beard assumed his ready stance, Vista's words were proven right as the water of the ocean swirled into a protective quarter of a dome. At the same time the sand of the beach rose and gathered, forming a floating gargantuan axe with looked like a mix between a weapon and an anchor.

"Sand, water and shield essences," Vista specified, in case anyone had any doubts about it.

"I will admit that it is an impressive axe," Dragonfly said approvingly.

"Young master, do you think this will mean trouble?" Dove asked, looking to the younger man as the clash began in the distance.

"Lustrous Shield is indeed more experienced, but so far, I am not worried. His path might be in its favored environment, but I have learned first hand that trying to fight Kite with magical conjurations is… unwise."

"Are you- oh! Ooooh!" Dove began, words turning into an excited cheer as there was a cracking sound which echoed out over the beach.

"Crow, did you see the chunk Kite tore out of the axe? It had to be bigger than a heidel!"

"Love, a heidel's shape is most irregular. It is a terrible unit of measurement."

"Oh you know what I mean!"

"I do. Sorry, love," Crow apologized, reaching out to pat her wife's hand.

"Thank you for the assistance in tempering my path," Kite intoned, even though the unconscious Lustrous Shield would not hear him from where he was being dragged away across the beach. He then turned to the other young man who had stepped up to meet him, although with decidedly less enthusiasm than the two before him.

"Greetings," Kite said politely.

"My name is Kite Flown in on Winds of Fortune."

"And I am Lustrous Shell," the other man said. He was built much like the two which had come before him, but had decidedly less of a hard air around him, both in look and spirit. Kite suspected that the man was merely brought in as a token presence, with the adventurers of the family clearly having expected to be able to manage.

"I assure you that I mean no disrespect when I ask you this, Lustrous Shell; are you sure you want to do this?" Kite asked, keeping his tone as polite as possible while nudging the other man's core-laced aura with his own.

"I-" he continued, before he stopped, eyes going wide.

"Wait, Lustrous Shell? The calligrapher?" The other man seemed quite taken aback by this sudden development.

"You- you know of my work?"

"I am quite familiar. I even went to one of your exhibitions a few years ago, even though my familiar became a little too fond of your art. Which meant that we had to leave. Your third collection of conceptual signs is its absolute favorite. I'm not sure how many times I've had to help it turn the pages."

"Your… familiar… is a fan? Of my calligraphy?"

"Indeed. Sage, why don't you come out and introduce yourself?" What followed was a surprisingly endearing exchange as the Astral Gatherer got to meet one of its heroes. While Lustrous Shell was, understandably, quite skeptical, Sage's enthusiastic emotes eventually won him over. Instead of a duel, the now very flattered artist spent some time drawing flourishing symbols in the sand with a conjured brush the length of a person, Sage obviously being over the moon with getting to see the creative process in real time.

One of the family members tried to call for Lustrous Shell to stop being a disgrace and get on with defending the family interests, which instead just led to the man's formal surrender.

"I am an artist, not a fighter. If you're so eager for some pain, come face this monster - no offense meant, Pathbreaker - yourselves!" had been Lustrous Shell's exact words.

"So… This will be our home," Dove said a bit wistfully as the four of them exited the aperture of the astral space, Raven quite reluctantly as she had been very fond of the purple sand.

"It will require a lot of work, but I believe that we should be able to turn this into something lasting," Kite said, adjusting the cranky toddler in his arms as he looked to the forested lands around the tunnel.

"Still, looking out over green foliage will be novel," Crow noted.

"I will miss the autumn colors though. But I agree with you, Kite. This should be able to become a home for us if we give it time. There is a lot of potential here."

"And it's remote enough for some actual privacy. The city is nice, but you can never get some peace and quiet with all those auras around," Dove said with a satisfied sigh.

"And the weaker magic of the astral space will be perfect for you to practice monster-hunting when you come of age, little chick!" Kite cooed enthusiastically to his pouting little sister.

"Oh no, young man. Don't you go poisoning her mind with violence too early," Dove protested.

"While you know that we love and support you, I'm still holding out that Raven will grow up into a fine little alchemist!"

"Or maybe a proper woodworker? To widen our collective toolbox?" Crow suggested.

"But love, the art of alchemy has much more depth that I am unable to explore. Surely-" Kite let the pair of them bicker fondly, instead turning to Raven.

"Let's take a better look, shall we?" A few steps later, conjured squares of force allowing them to ascend a few meters up into the air, Kite turned Raven in his arms so that she too could get a proper look of the forests, hills, cliffs and plains visible all around them.

"There isn't much here yet, little sister," he said, taking it all in along with the somber toddler.

"But this is where we will make our home. A fine place for all of us to grow. And, when you have stretched your wings and explored the world like your older brother, a place to return to."