Chương 293: Ten years since

Within the calm depth of his mind, Kite let the events of the previous few hours dissolve before his mind's eye. With the help of his meditative techniques, he let these fragments float out in the void before him and guided them to help reinforce the intricate series of roads that seemed to stretch up and away into infinity. Where once this image of his path had been something built stone by stone, the years had let it grow into something much more grand.

The tiled road showed no holes or missing pieces these days, but rather seemed to stretch all the way and prod the darkness in the distance; as if just the right angle or amount of force might actually have it break through and reveal that the gloom was just an illusion and that something greater awaited beyond.

But in that moment, Kite also warred with a distinct sense of frustration as progress felt so slow that it might as well be negligible, and he was just about to make another round through the events and insights he had already gathered when another aura touched upon his.

"Honored priest," Kite greeted with clear reverence as he rose and bowed deeply.

"Kite, was it not?" the human man said in reply, looking a lot more normal without the glowing spikes emerging from his skin. At least as normal as a gold-ranker could, given their clear and boundless perfection only dwarfed by Kite's memory of the Queen of Jade and Sky.

"That is correct, honored priest. And this is Glint, my bonded familiar," Kite introduced, the resting carp performing her own flowing interpretation of a curtsy.

"You fought well this day. May your path continue to take you towards the heavens."

"A curious saying," the priest noted as he took a seat of his own atop a nearby pile of rubble in the little nook in the base camp the adventurer force had made for themselves in the upper layers of the undead infested tunnels.

"It sounds like you are from the east."

"Indeed, honored priest. I hail from Hua-Xi, a kingdom along the eastern coast of the continent."

"What are these heavens you refer to then? I assume they are not literal?" the priest asked, both expression and aura making it clear that he was truly curious.

"You are correct," Kite replied.

"They are a metaphor for the very heights of power and purpose; the greatest we can hope to achieve. Even though they keep feeling very far away from me at the moment." The last part was said with some chagrin, to which the gold-ranker chuckled in understanding.

"I can indeed imagine. From the feel of you, you have been initiated into the truths of reaching the next stage. I have no doubt you will do just fine. These heavens of yours are fascinating too… I shall take them into consideration when I next find the time and peace to properly ponder and commune with my God. Oh, but where are my manners? My name is Jericho Matezza, hunter-priest of venerable Death.

And I came to thank you for your assistance earlier, as your actions made it possible for me to catch up and put that particular adversary to true rest."

"I am sure that with your power, honored priest Matezza, you would have been able to do so anyway."

"Perhaps in time, but when a pair of gold-rankers fight, just a second or two can make all of the difference. I've found that as long as we live, it is important to give credit where it is due to strengthen the bonds between the living so that we might remember one another even better when our times come."

"Then thank you, honored priest," Kite replied with another bow.

"Given the work that you've done for this extermination mission, it is only fitting that we help you in turn."

"Then, if I may ask… what seems to be troubling you?" Matezza asked, as he seemed to settle into his seat rather than be on his way as Kite had first assumed.

"Sometimes a fresh perspective on things can help, if you don't mind sharing."

"It is quite amusing that another gold-ranker told me something very similar towards the end of the monster surge," Kite chuckled.

"But you don't need to humor me, honored priest. I'm sure that you have more important things to do than to listen to the troubles of your lesser."

"You do know that the priesthood of Death has learned to become quite apt listeners over the centuries, no? Be it the living or those soon to pass, words do matter. And as I said, perspective helps." Seeing that the man seemed genuine in his offer, Kite took a moment to properly think.

"I am pondering the nature of the void and how it fits with me and my path," he started, a bit tentative, but continuing at an encouraging nod from the priest.

"It is one of the concepts of my powers that frightened me when I first came into contact with it. And while my set of abilities has its… idiosyncrasies overall, the void essence is also the medium through which I wreak the most straightforward destruction. This has been supremely useful during my life as an adventurer - and often something I found myself wishing I had more of - but I do not believe that I am a very violent person. How contradictory that sounds, given my line of work…"

"Bringing death is indeed a nuanced concept," Matezza agreed.

"Some might argue that there are few differences between the average adventurer and a bloodthirsty murderer, but I find that those are usually people with perspectives that are either simple, narrow or both. Intent is important in all things and all actions, as are the consequences too."

"In some ways, the void feels a bit akin to the domain of your god," Kite mused.

"An ending, something cut short or ceasing to exist."

"Ah, but is that truly the end? Or, if I may rephrase, is it merely an end?"

"I must admit, honored priest, that I have not been inducted in the mysteries of the soul after the parting from life. Perhaps you might tell me?"

"Alas, I cannot. It is not for us to truly know, only that the parting and the soul moving on is of utmost importance," Matezza replied with a smile that seemed more sad than smug.

"When I ponder the mysteries of Death, I find myself thinking of the consequences. As I said before, intent is important, but everything - even an ending such as death - still has some kind of continuation, does it not?" Kite thought about the statement, finding that there was something there; a kernel or a fragment. There was perhaps even a whole to be found too, although that felt far, far beyond him right now. But that tiny sliver though? That he grasped for with all this focus.

"Now that you mention it, doesn't death carry perhaps some of the most meaningful or impactful consequences of all?" Kite mused, thoughts forming rapidly as he spoke.

"The death of a loved one and its impact on the whole family for the rest of their lives. The death of a monster that means that a couple lives on to sire nine generations. The death of a foe, leaving the avenger grasping for a new purpose. Yes, death is an ending, but as you say it is not only an ending. Void is not necessarily death, yet death is in part void as the absence of something leaves room for something new…"

Only when he trailed off did Kite realize that the priest had simply leaned back against the wall and was now smiling knowingly after sitting in silence through his little monologue. The two men watched one another for a few more moments before the gold-ranker rose to his feet.

"As I believe I said before -," Matezza said, the smile is still playing on his lips." - I have no doubt that you will do just fine, Kite. And thank you for sharing some of your homeland's philosophy. That gives me something to ponder as well." Then he left, leaving Kite quite thoughtful but, more importantly, feeling that the conversation had awakened something in him; a seed of direction. And the hope that came with it.

"I honestly cannot believe that the city is still standing," Dragonfly said with some amazement as she leaned back in her chair, a gesture that was mirrored by both Walker and Spring. The trio sat in the guildmaster's office, chilled sap wine before them even as they each felt weary like never before.

"It was close there for a while," Second Spring agreed, reaching out to pat the back of her dearest's hand.

"Once again, my dear guildmaster, you prove that you have a way with people."

"If you're talking about how I managed to steer those two hot-headed inner disciples to actually take it to the arena instead of risking destroying that noodle shop - and Mama Spirits' is one of the best around too - I think that you are giving me too much credit. At least the crowds were happy for the extra bout. Apparently, some are willing to pay good money to see silver rankers fight around here."

"Then those people must not have discovered Soul's arena," Dragonfly chimed in after taking a long drink.

"But she is pretty scary, so I guess an official tournament felt a lot more approachable. A toast then, to the first Autumn Wanderers' tournament. The city survived, the guild made a good showing, and the sects didn't tear each other to shreds. Heavens, they even seemed a bit impressed with the prizes on offer, although I suspect they wouldn't be caught dead admitting it." Taking an even longer drink, Walker nodded.

"That reminds me, we shall have to congratulate Sprite and her team for their good showing in the team brackets. I honestly didn't think any of the sects would send any participants to that, given how unorthodox most seemed to view it to be, but I guess they were too afraid of the guild showing them up."

"And the loss in the semifinals will probably have taught my student a thing or two. She's still fuming, but I think it will be good for her in the long run," Dragonfly giggled, before turning a bit more somber." I wish Kite could have seen it. I know it has only been half a year and there should still be a month or two before he makes his first trip back home, but still…"

"At least he is out there for a good cause," Spring consoled, before glancing at Walker who in turn nodded.

"He might still come to regret his absence though, as that means that you get to know first."

"Know what?" Dragonfly asked, intrigued.

"That his Uncle Walker is about to be a father," the guildmaster smiled, squeezing Spring's hand.

"What? When? By the Gods, that's wonderful news! Congratulations! Oh, I can't believe there's going to be a little guild baby!" All that and more escaped Dragonfly as she threw herself over the table - fortunately with a silver's grace and precision - and wrapped the both of them in a fierce hug.

"Fertility's priests confirmed the conception, and we are expected to be able to break the little one out of the vat close to the turning of the year," Spring replied, although her words were muffled by the powerful embrace.

"And if you squeeze much harder, the poor child will be an orphan early in life," Walker managed to choke out.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just so happy for you. And Kite is going to be too. Just imagine him. Uncle Kite. Oh, and I'm going to be Auntie Dragonfly!"

"Oh that you will. Both of you. Might as well get some more practice in until you have your own, no?"

"Heh, well now that's a nice thought. We will aim for it, just when… you know… is over," Dragonfly said, blushing a bit.

"But we do look forward to it. Much like I look forward to this summer when he should be able to return for some leave. He did request that timing specifically."

"Oh? Why is that?" Walker asked before doing some mental calculations as understanding dawned in his eyes.

"Ah, you're right, it is time. I had almost forgotten, it being almost a decade ago now. Hopefully he won't mind if his old uncle tags along." The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"It's not anything too dangerous, I hope?" Spring asked with a raised eyebrow, to which Walker shook his head while his eyes gleamed with smug confidence.

"Given who's going to be present on our side? No, my dear. Not dangerous in the slightest." As Kite walked through the cramped and hodgepodge streets beneath towering buildings - which felt like they should collapse at any moment given their ramshackle nature - he did his best to channel everything he had been taught in the art of disguise during his basic training with Gauntlet and the refresher session that he and the team had arranged for themselves before leaving on this particular contract.

While dressing himself up in rags, covering up his tattoos and wearing a hidden patch that would conceal his aura was simple enough, he found that the hardest part to conceal was his sheer physical superiority to the people around him. Normal-rankers - or at least all of those who were visible - who he could easily have weaved through in the crowded streets of the sprawling slums without anyone ever touching him.

But as he was to act as a lone foreigner, his looks and complexion distinct from the paler skin and lighter hair of most locals, simply walking with too much balance and confidence might give him up before either he or his team managed to find themselves any leads.

That was why he let himself brush against many of the filthy people, occasionally grunting or stepping away while huddling submissively in the face of anyone showing anger towards him as they cursed in their native tongue or what trade speech they could manage.

"I had expected poverty, but this…" he thought to himself, his expanded vision letting him take in all of his surroundings, showing him plenty that was uncomfortable to witness. Hua-Xi had plenty of destitute and poor people too, of course, but there was something about the sheer concentration in this gargantuan slum so far from home that his more sparsely populated kingdom was unable to match.

And while it might not help most of them, at least someone had cared enough to send Amica's team to rid them of one particular danger. Walking a bit too close to a dark and cramped alley that felt more like the crack of a ravine than any planned space between buildings, Kite was suddenly yanked inside as a loop of rope came flying out with decent precision and constricted around his neck. He had seen it coming, of course, and had to truly war with his instinct to dodge the ambush.

Fortunately, he managed to let himself be dragged along while letting out just a tiny shout for help that fell on deaf ears of everyone passing by. This was a place where few would step into it for one another, after all, especially foreigners. Even before he was slammed against the wall, Kite managed to count his attackers; a gaunt man and equally slim woman who quickly crowded him in the narrow confinements.

There was no talk or threats as the pair went directly for his throat, their mouths revealing narrow fangs and Kite found that he did not even need his aura senses to notice their savage hunger. Their hisses of triumph turned to squeals of pain and surprise however, as Kite was suddenly enveloped in a flash of gray light when his concealed armband transformed into his full armored regalia. His aura mask crumbling, Kites extended his spirit just a bit to take in his attackers, who were bronze rank as expected.

At the same time, both of their throats were caught in gauntleted fists as the would-be hunters found themselves being the one pressed against the wall instead. Both tried launching some kind of glowing red slivers towards Kite which he mostly ignored as they failed to penetrate his armor while his spectral arms appeared to dispel any stray projectiles before they could leave the alley.

Somewhere further in between the press of buildings he noted the faint signs of Amica descending to take care of some yet to be revealed attacker, but as she seemed to be handling things with ease, he instead took some time to focus on another sensation.

There was something in that moment to be captured; fragments of thought that seemed to coalesce into the hazy outline of satisfaction as the bloodline-powered attacks from the pair of vampires were simply crushed and snuffed out before anyone around them was any the wiser. No panic, no thrashing throngs of curious or scared people. Nothing. There was definitely a distinct satisfaction in simply being able to negate the danger before those around them even noticed it.

The moment passed quickly however, and Kite slammed the two vampires into one another a couple of times to stun them out of their struggling before Amica took over with a telekinetic hold that the pair of bronze rankers wouldn't be able to break for as long as she remained conscious.

"Since you caught these so nicely, I figured we didn't need the third one," she murmured.

"Come, we'll see if Léon has caught any sign of that cult of Famine that our sources said were driving the vampires here into this feeding frenzy. The insight still playing on the edges of his mind, Kite nodded and followed her while sighing inwardly. Another day with Gauntlet, another hidden sinister cult.

"Little Raven, I am not sure what else I can do but apologize again," Kite called softly from where he was crouched next to the little crawl space where his younger sister was currently hiding.

"It's not that. I'm not mad that you missed my birthday. I'm mad that you're leaving again already," came the sullen reply.

"You were supposed to be home for a whole month."

"And that is indeed what I will be."

"Then why are you leaving?"

"Because there is something important happening up north, and I should be there. It won't be a long trip though."

"Doesn't matter. I'm still mad. And sad."

"I see," Kite stated knowingly, seemingly noting to himself.

"What a shame then that those awful feelings have been for naught."

"... That? what does that mean?"

"Well, 'for naught' means that they proved to be unnecessary–""Brother, I know what 'for naught' means. They appear in some of Mommy Crow's books all the time," Raven sighed in a way that was eerily akin to the particular mother she had mentioned.

"But why did you say that?"

"It seems that you forgot one important question, little Raven," Kite smiled. There was a moment of silence before Raven eventually asked: "Which one?"

"A quite simple one actually; 'Can I come with you?'

" A moment later, the onyx-haired girl popped her head out from her hiding place, any semblance of sullenness seeming to have vaporized in an instant.

"Wait, can I?"

"Indeed you can," Kite confirmed.

"But you have to promise to stay close to Glint all the time."

"Of course, of course!" the child answered almost too quickly, but Kite could recognize the eagerness for what it was. Raven might be energetic, but she wasn't the type to just run off into the unknown on her own. Which was why he had decided to offer for her to join him, Dragonfly, Sprite and Glint for this rather special occasion.

"Then shall we go? I bet you have some packing to do."

"Oh yes, I'll need clothes, food - no, wait, the grown-ups will take care of that - oh, and things to do on the trip. Uncle Crow's floating beads, the formation plates Big Brother gave me–" All of those items and more were rattled off mid-step, as Raven rushed off towards the main house and her room to pack all manner of things, both necessary and not. Thank the gods for spatial bags.

"Pathbreaker."

"Sect leader," Kite replied, bowing politely towards Luster of Imminent Dusk, who returned the gesture from where she stood by the gates of her sect compound. It was odd to stand before the woman he once found so imposing while now being her equal in regards to personal power. Sect Leader Dusk had changed a bit since they last met one another, although that seemed to be more in spirit than it looks.

She still had her straw blonde hair gathered in a traditional bun with a pair of jade hairpins keeping it in place and wore elaborate robes in the warm colors of the Victorious Sunset Sect, but there was something in her countenance that felt just a bit warmer than before.

Kite supposed that to most others she would still be considered quite imposing and harsh with her constant slight frown and serious expression, but there was a bit of relaxation in her aura that hadn't been there when he last met her during bronze rank. There was also a bit of tired acceptance in her eyes, but now knowing what he did about the transition to gold rank and what the fact that she still remained in Northern Hua-Xi leading her sect implied, Kite thought he knew the reason.

"Given how far you've come, I am honestly surprised that you remembered this anniversary," the sect leader continued.

"Although I suppose it's only right that you see the conclusion of what you set in motion ten years ago. Even though rumors of you meeting the queen's herald again since then have reached even us."

"It is indeed so," Kite confirmed.

"And is it true that you also met the queen herself? Called to an audience somewhere above the clouds?"

"That is also true." While she seemed to have expected his statement, Kite still noticed the woman steadying herself a bit upon hearing the confirmation.

"I see," came the eventual, tentative response.

"Then let us pray to the gods and plead to the heavens that her herald finds our work to be worthy. I welcome you and your companions to partake of our hospitality while we await our judgment."

"Thank you, Sect Leader Dusk. It would be our pleasure." The group joined the woman and her small honor guard as they turned and entered the compound proper, introducing Dragonfly, Sprite, Raven and Glint.

"It looks like you have prospered these last years," Kite noted as he looked around the now much more extensive sect compound. It was still small and simple compared to the sects closer to the heartlands, but he roughly estimated that it had grown at least half again as large. His aura senses could also pick up seven silver-rankers in total where there previously had been three.

"Fortune has indeed smiled upon us, though most has been down to the hard work of our students," Sect Leader Dusk confirmed.

"Since the fall of the Descending Star Sect, we have been forced to cover a greater area to live up to the challenge posed to us by the queen's herald. While some students still chafe at being sent on the more wayward contracts, they still know their place and perform as demanded. When the sun sets, we will already have claimed victory each day."

"From the sound of my guild members, there have been few conflicts between our members and your students in the years prior."

"Indeed. Upon your guild's founding, Branch Director Jarvan did make it clear - in no uncertain terms - that there would be consequences for interfering. We have made sure to impress this upon our students thoroughly, but in the last few years there has rarely been any need as most iron and bronze-rankers are used to the presence of the guild. There has even been the occasional collaboration for particularly challenging contracts or when the needs of the field demanded it. Then there was your tournament…

It was an eye-opening experience for many of our students who were chosen as part of our delegation. Given how you earned your name, Pathbreaker, I would have expected you to participate."

"Alas, I was otherwise occupied," Kite confessed, earning himself a raised eyebrow that seemed to urge him to continue. When he did not, the sect leader just shook her head.

"It feels like only recently when I would have taken some offense and expressed my displeasure at you sidestepping an answer like that. But alas, time has proven that not all flowers bloom equally fast. Or at all."

"Perhaps the flower needs to step out of the comfort zone of the greenhouse and face the harsh winds again?" Kite asked innocently, earning himself a light scowl.

"I will still see you expelled from my sect if you prove too smug, Pathbreaker. This time though, I shall let it slide as there is truth to your words. Come now. Let us partake of refreshments here in the park while we wait. Do you perhaps know how the queen's herald means to arrive?" By now, the group had arrived at said park; a sprawling streak of greenery and exotic trees not common to the otherwise heavily forested region.

A spread had been prepared beneath one particularly impressive elm tree whose leaves shimmered like the moon reflected in a rippling lake.

"It would be foolish of me to try and guess at the mind of a vaunted existence such as her," Kite noted as he sat down.

"But so far, honored Gleam has seemed very prone to wanting to stretch her wings." While they ate, waited and made small talk about the sect and the guild, Raven found great fun in traipsing around and collecting fallen leaves from the impressive tree after asking the sect leader directly for permission with a lack of trepidation that seemed to impress rather than annoy the severe woman. Such was the lot of one growing up with plenty of silver rankers in their immediate family.

In the end though, their wait didn't prove overly long. Around half an hour later, all of the essence-users in the sect stopped as one - with some tripping or staggering as they were interrupted mid-step - and looked towards the bright summer sky as they felt something brush against their spirits; something vast and powerful beyond anything they had felt before. A second later, a glowing streak split the sky in two before turning downwards towards the compound.

Resplendent Gleam of Imagination landed in the park with a roar of displaced air, but with a surprising lightness to her insectoid feet that touched down among the greenery without even a semblance of collateral damage.

Still, there was a distinct and undeniable power to the motions of her colorful body as each articulated segment moved in perfect tandem while the impressive construct slowly turned to look down upon the gathered people, though Kite suspected that there was quite a bit of deliberate theatrics going on too. Gleam had always enjoyed making an impression, after all.

As if to prove his assumption correct, her metallic voice soon boomed out across the sect with all the authority one would imagine an diamond-ranked being to possess.

"I HAVE ARRIVED ON THIS PROMISED DAY!" Came the metallic clarion call, though Kite noticed that it seemed to be somewhat moderated, probably due to the presence of little Raven who stood next to Glint and stared wide-eyed at the wonderful being.

"TEN YEARS AGO, THE MERCY OF A YOUNG MAN GAVE THE VICTORIOUS SUNSET SECT A CHANCE; A CHANCE TO ONCE MORE ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH THE DECREES AND WILL OF THE QUEEN OF JADE AND SKY, LONG MAY THE MEMORY OF HER RULE BE REVERED. SHOULD THE SECT HAVE MANAGED TO TURN THEIR PATH INTO ONE THAT FOUND A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THEIR DOMAIN AND ITS PEOPLE AND NURTURING THEIR OWN STRENGTH, I WAS TO REWARD THEM FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK IN FINDING THEIR WAY BACK TO WHAT IS PROPER AND RIGHT.

AND HAD THEY IGNORED MY DECREE AND KEPT STRAYING FROM THE HONOR OF THE QUEEN'S RULES… THEN CALAMITY WOULD BEFALL THEM. AND NOW IT IS TIME. TO DELIVER JUDGMENT."