Chương 282: Glimpses of conflict

Snow and frost crunched underneath feet as each breath fogged the chilly winter air of the road leading through the forest. But in contrast to the bite of winter, the tempers of some of the people present were running quite hot.

"Hey, outcast trash! Don't turn your back when I'm talking to you!"

"I believe we made it quite clear that we have nothing else to say to your attempted provocations," Scythe replied evenly, turning to look over his shoulders at the three initiates of the Perfected Step Sect that had barred their path. This wasn't the first time people of the guild had been accosted lately when moving south of Convergence, but Guildmaster Walker had been quite clear in how he would prefer the members to deal with situations like these, something which Scythe intended to follow.

His brother, on the other hand…

"Besides, we have heard how things went the last time your sect started trouble with the guild," Grain called, continuing before Scythe could stop him.

"With the monster surge building up, perhaps you should focus more on actually doing what you're supposed to and protect the people in your territory rather than harassing others who're just trying to do what adventurers are supposed to." While undoubtedly true, Scythe still slapped a hand to his face as Grain's words had the very expected effect.

"What?! You DARE?! Come, let us teach the guild of these outcasts a lesson by sending their broken bodies back to them to tell of the might of the Perfected Step!" Seeing tempers going from hot to incandescent, Scythe sighed.

"Fine. I, Scythe of Fall, challenge either one of you to-" His words were interrupted though as a blast of flames had Scythe conjure his shield and block with one fluid motion, the deflected heat melting the snow around him.

"Think that we'd expect outcasts like you to honor an actual challenge? Those are only for actual warriors. Trash like you are best taken out directly, and without preamble," the initiate who had fired the firebolt called with no small amount of satisfaction, seeming to turn up his self-assured demeanor even further under the gazes of his companions." The wildfire advances!"

All three of the initiates sped up visibly beneath what Scythe suspected was some kind of swiftness-enhancing boon, but that did not change his approach as he stomped down with one foot as he stepped forward to meet them." Singular boundary. Spines of the world." A shimmering line expanded to each side of Scythe, letting nothing hostile pass through. It was one of his best ways of keeping whatever they were fighting away from Grain and Fawn.

And with the next step, a wall of stone and earth rose like a tiny mountain range in front of them to further block the initiates' advances as well as further opening projectiles. From experience, there would usually be at least one enemy who would try to clear more swiftly, leading to-"" Translocation gate!"

One of the initiates had barely crested the ridge in some kind of root-empowered leap before her trajectory was interrupted by a small hole in the world opening right in front of her through which she vanished, only to appear around twenty meter up in the air around fifty meters further down the road with a shriek. Since bronze-rank, Grain's smaller gates could shift people as well in addition to the newer addition of the grander portal mode with its own cost and delay.

Anyone not friendly would have a chance to resist and power through the dimensional effect, but that was not the case for this particular initiate as she was forcefully translocated. Scythe did wince at the potentially very dangerous situation that Grain had put her in, but had little more time to ponder it since that was when one of the other initiates rounded his wall, shooting a gout of flames at him that was dispersed by Scythe's raised shield and the barrier extending from it.

While the flame-wielder kept his distance, his last companion rounded the other side of the earth wall and charged in one mighty pounce as he transformed into some kind of half-feline monstrosity.

Planting his feet thoroughly just as Senior Brother Kite had taught him, Scythe slammed his shield outward while utilizing yet another special attack from his earth essence that lent the blow enough force to send the initiate flying backwards into a grasping set of roots that burst from the earth wall when Fawn brought her magic to bear while Grain sent bolts of magic from his staff to force the flame-wielder to dive back behind the earth wall for cover.

"Summons?" Grain called, seeming just a bit too enthusiastic at the prospect of bringing that particular power of his down upon the aggressive initiates, but Scythe had other plans.

"No. Portal."

"What? But we can take them-""Portal, brother." Grain hesitated for a moment, during which Scythe was once more accosted by the transfiguration cat-person who had managed to cut his way from the grasping vines with some furious claw-swipes and pounce again. Scythe drew a short blade for this close-up fighting as his foe was too quick to keep at bay with something with better reach, exchanging a few blows and blocks with the man during Grain's moment of indecision.

But as Scythe's brother tended to, he did see sense, albeit with a slight delay. Runes formed around a much grander opening in the world that appeared behind Scythe, who started slowly backing up towards it step by step while using shield and blade to keep his foe at bay. The transfigurated initiate tried circumventing Scythe a few times to go for the seemingly softer targets behind him, but Scythe's boundary held firm.

"You cowards! Don't let them get awa-" was the last thing Scythe heard before the world shifted around him, followed by a slight dizzy spell that passed a lot sooner than it had a few months ago. But given that his brother had worked his portal power tirelessly, the trio had gotten quite a lot of chances to acclimatize.

Scythe didn't let himself enjoy the view of the snow-covered village from atop the scenic hill that had been his brother's point of reference, instead turning directly to affix Grain with his best disapproving glare.

"... what?" Grain had the gall to ask, even seeming unaware.

"I mean, I'm sorry about delaying the portal a bit. But we really could have taken those bastards out."

"Without killing them?"

"... probably?"

"None of us have the path of Senior Brother Kite, Grain. We all heard them. They were idiots. Dangerous idiots and out for blood."

"Exactly, so-""And yet Guildmaster Walker was quite clear in that we are to avoid conflict with the sects whenever possible. If you think they are out for blood now, how do you think things will go if we give them actual excuses rather than flimsy, made-up ones? You might have accomplished that already, given from how far up you dropped that initiate."

"We're bronze-rankers now, brother. She wouldn't be worth her salt if she didn't have something to protect her from falls."

"They were idiots, Grain. Don't assume such foresight on their part."

"I don't think you need to worry, Scythe," Fawn chimed in as she stepped up to Grain's side.

"I saw some roots and vines reach up to catch her."

"See, as I-" Grain began before his love then turned and poked his cheek.

"That doesn't take away from his point, Grain," she lectured even though, true to form, Fawn's tone always stayed soft.

"You could have made a lot of trouble for the guild and Senior Brother. Would you want him to return from his contracts abroad to find the sects breathing down our necks more than they already have been?"

"... No," Grain said, deflating as Fawn had mercilessly struck at his weak spot. Mentioning that Kite would be disappointed or inconvenienced by his actions tended to work wonders as Grain had still not settled his self-imposed debt of gratitude to the man, although Scythe supposed that having one's crippled legs healed while at the same time receiving supremely expensive essences made for understandable emotional complications.

"It's just…"

"I know, Grain," Fawn consoled.

"And seeing as we are unlikely to get to the next bounty board as intended, we might as well head back to Convergence and report this. I'm sure that Champion Soul would be delighted to head over to the Perfected Step Sect and express her displeasure in more traditional ways. Rumor has it that she has some history with them."

"That… does sound nice. Do you think she'll let us come along and watch?"

"Perhaps, but I would rather have us out seeking other contracts rather than gloating," Scythe said, once more quashing his brother's dreams.

"We have our first surge as essence-users to prepare for and we need to be ready. It should be well over a year away, but you never know with these things."

"Fine…" Grain grumbled, once more agreeing to a sensible approach.

"But at least we should head into the village there and see if they have more of that mulled apple wine the inn served the last time we went through? Might as well have some comfort as we wait for the portal to become available again."

"A splendid idea, love," Fawn said, patting Grain's cheek while taking him by the hand and dragging him off towards the houses in the distance.

"Probably the best you've had all day."

"And you still won't come?" Victory Crowned in Storm and Stone asked incredulously as she paced around where Vista sat in meditation, floating slightly above the floor of his quarters.

"No."

"Not even after all I told you."

"No. They might have struck at your logging sites, but that was only after you tried to claim half of their herb-gathering territories. That does not warrant further responses, in my eyes, and as I am not a formal part of your sect, I am well within my rights to refuse. These blades of mine are first and foremost to be drawn against monsters, not people."

Inner Disciple Storm stopped and leaned down to scrutinize Vista's impassive face, a bit closer than what was comfortable or entirely appropriate, given that it was only the two of them around.

"You really mean that, don't you?"

"Was that not clear?" Vista asked, opening his eyes and stoically not withdrawing from the invasion of personal space.

"So what will you do in the meantime?"

"Hunt the expanses."

"Aha! I knew you'd like them! Finally, an admission after these months!"

"They… do provide good tempering."

"Then-""But that is still not something that would warrant me joining up with your sect, Inner Disciple," Vista interrupted, knowing what the infuriating woman had intended to say next.

"Especially not after what your elders are directing you to do now. Such aggression outside the tournaments is frankly worrying." This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Storm remained silent for a while, the powerfully built woman regarding the seated outcast with an inscrutable expression for a while before eventually nodding to herself as she seemed to have reached some kind of conclusion. One that - as it turned out - wasn't one that Vista had expected.

"Okay."

"... Okay? Okay, what?"

"You make a point. I'll not join the retributive expedition."

"Wait, wha-""I guess I'll just have to tag along with you instead." Vista couldn't help the slight flinching of his expression, one that his counterpart clearly recognized as she continued with some glee.

"The expanse can be dangerous now that some more of the precursor signs to the surge have started showing up. Wouldn't want you to stumble into something not even you could handle out there, and wouldn't want to myself either. So I'll guess I'll be in your care!"

"It feels like the time has passed so quickly since I was here at bronze rank, Director. Once more, I am in your debt for coming to my aid during the incident with Mistress Withers," Kite said, bowing in gratitude even as Branch Director Dobrazza of the Adventure Society's Bastion branch tried waving him off. Or rather, soon to be former branch director, as the very reason for their meeting was one of farewells.

"Nonsense, Kite. I couldn't let such a fine specimen of a local adventurer go to waste just because some local core-user took things too far," the smolder woman said with her usual intensity as she regarded him.

"And gods, you did grow up well. Dragonfly is a lucky woman. But don't go spilling any tears for me. Azure is well and truly ready to step into the role of director, even though the higher-ups were a bit reluctant to install a local in these… unstable times. Still, his service has been constant and pragmatic. He'll be a fine ally for you in the days to come."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Kite said, thinking back to the scarred elf who had been working closely with the society since back in bronze rank.

"And as for the fight against Discord…"

"Oh, don't fret, young man. I might be stepping out myself - home calls, and has for a long time - now that my tenure has ended, but as my next position looks like it'll be higher up in the organization, I will try and send whatever help I can your way. Given the age of his children, Jarvan will remain for at least a decade more too, and now that Director Temren of Heavenward has become more involved it looks like almost all of the other directors of the Hua-Xi branches are falling in line."

"Every bit of help will be appreciated," Kite thanked her, managing to quash the slight sense of disappointment that he nevertheless felt. The fight for Hua-Xi wasn't everyone's, no matter the darker forced behind it, and Carmella Dobrazza had always made it clear that she was a career woman in that regard, doing a professional and fine job while she held her position but then detaching herself to keep focusing on her own goals after stepping down.

"Still, I will also remember your little outburst from years back too, Kite," Carmella said with the smile of someone who felt like they had learned a lesson.

"Keeping my perspective and nuances even in the face of frustrations might not be my strength, but it will have to be a weakness to shore up. This kingdom may have more issues than some, but there are indeed plenty of good and dedicated people here who have learned that it is indeed possible to work for both others and themselves at the same time. I find myself missing parts of it already. Especially those kites still flapping here over Bastion. Maybe I'll bring one home as a souvenir."

"Damn you, outcast trash!" Sect Leader Sea of Winter of the Wandering Winds Sect shouted, his frustration finally getting the better of him as yet another of his gleaming waves of chilling, cutting energies were dispelled with a flick of a spectral hand while ripping even more mana from its user.

That particular attack was meant to have finally turned the tide in what had so far only been a slippery slope of sundered spells and lost mana; a hidden strike emerging from shimmering frost at a dead angle with decisive force and swiftness. But that damnable outcast seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.

But even though the sect leader's vision was starting to go a bit blurry due to mana fatigue, Sea of Winter tried his best to steady himself and look the damnable man in the eyes while trying to keep his aura under control, because with the plate armor and tattoos made of that strange metal along with the four glowing arms and trio of hungry vortices floating above him, he found that the Pathbreaker was looking far more imposing than he would ever admit.

"Surrender is an acceptable option, Sect Leader," the brat spoke, still calm and collected.

"To bow out with grace might even be seen a sign of wisdom-""Shut up, heaven-cursed trash! Do you think that your victory would mean anything? That our proud sect would ever agree to such a ridiculous demand?! To stop taking revenge on our foes as we please, even for a time?"

"Such was your promise, Sect Leader, made before the sect and Warrior himself," the Pathbreaker remarked calmly.

"Bah, to the depths with you all! This was a farce from the very beginning, the same cheats and tricks you have no doubt pulled on the others. I refuse to be part of this anymore! Wandering Winds, kill the outcast!" His last command was shouted along with a forceful projection of his aura as Sea of Winter drew himself up. The officiating priest of Warrior was already staring daggers at him, but what was a bronze-ranked acolyte before the will of the sect?

The gathered elders would descend upon the trash who, no matter his path, would not be able to fight eight on one. But as there was a few seconds of silence, the sect leader was forced to turn his glare upon his own people.

"What are you waiting for?! Strike him down!" Three of the elders did indeed seem inclined to do just that, but to Sea of Winter's rising dismay, the five others - including the two grand elders - were instead looking at him with expressions ranging from outrage to condemnation.

"Sect Leader, this is not the way of the Wandering Winds," Grand Elder Whistling Ivory spoke, taking a step forward.

"Honor the journey, such has always been our creed. But striking out against the territories of our neighbors without provocation? And now this? This is going too far, especially as the Pathbreaker and his guild helped our delegation during the Proving. Who knows what could have happened if those posing as our disciples had actually succeeded in their sabotage?"

Ivory's voice rang clear in the late spring air of the sect's dueling grounds, even though the stands themselves were empty of initiates and disciples, and they made Sea of Winter's eyes bulge with fury.

"T-traitors! You are my sect! Disobedience means death!"

"Truly, Sect Leader?" The other grand elder asked, concern written across her brow.

"Will we start murdering our own students and members now too?"

"We cannot be seen as weaker than our neighbors! To do so would be the death of us! Of all of the Wandering Winds Sect! My sources have told me such for years! We need to seize the initiative! Those of you with any shred of loyalty in your hearts, take these traitors down with the outcast!

We need to clean out more trash than I thou-" The Sect Leader's words were cut off, however, as a barely seen ripple projected from an even less detectable blade struck him from the side, draining his mana in a burst of blue cracks that spread across his form.

"As no one had called an end to our clash, I took the liberty of helping it reach its conclusion," the Pathbreaker remarked calmly, looking towards the acolyte of Warrior who gave him an approving nod before turning his gaze to the gathered elders.

"Is there anyone else who would like to issue a challenge here to me today and try to annul my prize? Or will you indeed do as your sect leader bid you; throw honor to the wind and attempt to strike me down?" The three silver-ranked elders glanced among one another, but none stepped forward to issue any such challenge, and after a few seconds Kite nodded and turned to those clearly less hostile.

"Then I trust that the Wandering Winds Sect will hold to this arrangement? I did wage twenty essences on the bout, so let nobody claim that my demands were unfair."

"We will, Pathbreaker," Grand Elder Ivory agreed, before looking Kite up and down.

"It would seem that you have come very far since we last met as you emerged from the Queen's gate. From the feel of it, you've even surpassed me on your path."

"As expected of a silver-ranker to remember, Grand Elder," Kite replied, bowing slightly in respect.

"And congratulations to you on your post. The teachings you gave me there after our little misadventure with the Pristine family were most helpful." The man had indeed come far himself from the warrior who had been pressed into the opportunistic family's service to achieve 'permission' to enter the Queen's gate.

Whistling Ivory had been an early silver-ranker then, and seemed to have kept working hard even though Kite suspected that it was his duties as grand elder that had slowed down his own progress towards gold rank.

"It is worthwhile work, but sometimes complicated," Ivory noted, glancing down towards the unconscious sect leader.

"Us elders will need to have a rather important meeting soon, but it looks like we're due for a change of leadership; one who won't spend our strength and resources on unsanctioned raids when the surge is looming ever closer. This is what you and yours have been up to lately? Because there have been rumors…"

"We might have started inserting ourselves into local politics a bit more," Kite admitted.

"Forcing these kinds of ceasefires has been one of the few ways we've found some success, assuming that more of the sects of the north won't renege on their promises like your leader seemed prone to. There are no guarantees in these times, but the more ready we can be for the surge, the better."

"But why go so far?" At the question, Kite stopped and pondered briefly before answering.

"Were you at the capital for the Proving?"

"No, but I have heard the tales."

"And have you heard of the warnings of me and my guild?"

"Those… No, they did not reach back here," Ivory said, frowning while glancing at some of his fellow elders who Kite suspected might indeed have been part of the sect's delegation to the capital.

"Then if you don't mind extending your hospitality to me for a bit longer, I believe that me and my companions outside the compound have some important information to share with you. Most other sects haven't been very receptive so far, but in this endeavor, we need to remain resolute. Yours were the last sect here in the northern regions without a gold-ranker at its head too, so there is unfortunately little hope of further repetitions of our little string of challenges."

Ivory seemed to consider the request for a bit, passing glances between a few of his allies while the three elders in opposition remained blessedly silent.

"It does seem you know something that might be important for the Wandering Winds Sect, Pathbreaker. Come, let us speak more on this. For your tolerance with the shameful display here, as well as the assistance your guild provided us in the capital, the least we can do to balance our karma is to hear you out."

"Well done, husband. You've been working hard these past few months," Dragonfly said as she snuggled up to Kite in their bed at the top of their little tower where the panoramic windows gave a breathtaking view in every direction as the late spring sunset cast the skies in a plethora of colors.

"So have you, my ardent and most dedicated wife," Kite replied with a chuckle as he held her close. As silver-rankers, neither of the pair needed that much sleep, but they still made a point of going to bed together at sunset whenever possible. Keeping that little tradition was a way to keep themselves grounded, as well as making sure to have more time with one another in a life that more and more seemed to strive to tug them in opposite directions for longer and longer periods of time.

"I guess I have," Dragonfly replied with some smug satisfaction.

"There are so many roads to travel here in the north alone, and plenty of lingering monster nests to clear. We don't want them creeping out of the shadows once the surge starts. Will and Laevyeth have been working hard too, zooming around with that ridiculous spear-ship of theirs."

"Have you had the chance to meet their new pilot yet?

"No, have you?"

"Briefly. It was apparently one of Grim's nieces that they found who seemed like a good match for the job. She's… Let's just say a study in contrasts. You'll see when you meet her."

"Oh, you tease. I ought to make you pay for that," Dragonfly giggled, before doing just that. At length. Therefore, it was much later in the night before the pair eventually resumed more coherent conversation.

"Kite?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think we will manage to last through this all?" Dragonfly asked, voice sounding more thoughtful than afraid. Picking up on what she was referring to was also a simple matter.

"This battle against Discord was always imagined to be more of a marathon than a sprint, but saying that and actually keeping up the pace are two completely different beasts," Kite admitted.

"Some days it feels like we're doing good work, others it simply feels futile as we get reports of new conflicts blossoming up through the guild's network. But… We can only keep adapting and pushing on, I suppose. We aren't the only ones fighting this, after all."

"So… keep our hearts steady and minds resolute? Keep doing our thing?"

"Indeed, even though I suspect that it comes more naturally to me and my path as a whole," Kite agreed.

"It…" He fell silent however, growing contemplative in a way that Dragonfly had seen him do every now and then lately, and as she had an inkling about what that might be, she let him take his time before he eventually seemed to snap back to reality.

"I'm sorry, love. What were we talking about?"

"Something quite important, but also something I think we were already done with," Dragonfly said, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you, dear," Kite replied, holding her close for a while longer before something else struck him.

"Oh, I realized I haven't asked since I came back. How has Sprite fared with the rituals?"

"Good. Ever since those lessons with Crow, she has been able to perform them herself without fault."

"That's great. I remember waiting with baited breath every time, trying to keep hope to a reasonable degree as it might still be years before she's ready."

"Indeed," Dragonfly agreed, thinking of her little student. Or rather, not so little. Soon to be sixteen, it was much more accurate to call Sprite a young woman, especially as the little wisp of a girl had had the audacity to outgrow Dragonfly when it came to height. And as to her readiness…

"It might take some time but…. Well, knowing her, I have this feeling that the time might come sooner than we think."