Chương 62: Reflections and revelations

Serene looked truly radiant where she sat in the garden, a set of fresh robes and a dose of crystal wash later. Celestines were often regarded as very beautiful for those with more human sensibilities, and her ranking up only compounded that special symmetry in their features which gave them an almost otherworldly look even without essences to boost it.

Her jade green hair and eyes had an entirely new luster where she sat talking with Kite and Dove, her lips never moving but her meaning easily carried through her magic. A mere week after Kite's ascension, it had been Serene's turn to push through the barriers of rank and ascend. Had it not been for the local culture and Kite's lone adventure inside the jade-sky gate, she would surely have been the first.

"I had little doubt she would beat me to bronze." Will said to his manservant where they sat on the opposite side of the long table that was brought out of storage for these kinds of celebrations.

"She has been our constant, even before I joined them. Her powers are always present. Like a song you can't get out of your mind, even should you want to. I am glad that she found the people to help her along the way."

"I can't help but note that the young master seems to not only be talking about the young priestess." Grim noted with his usual formality, although Will did note him focusing a bit more on their conversation, as if sensing some gravitas that he deemed important. Will's first response was a sigh, but eventually he answered. Grim had been his companion for almost all of his life, and even though their relationship was at its core a professional one, Will trusted the manservant with his life. And his troubles.

"You are right, Grim. And in a way, I have to admit that my father was too, even though it will take more than a sentimental mood for me to admit it to his face. If the last couple of months have taught me something, it is that I too need them to grow. Of all of us in this group, I have had the most close calls, been the closest to fall on more than one occasion. They have all saved me more than once."

"I would like to point out that you have done the same for them, young master."

"Yes, but that is not the point I am building towards." Will said, waving off the other man's words.

"I have few doubts in my personal skills and the path that I have chosen is mine and mine alone. But in the end, a spear sometimes needs the rest of its phalanx to bring out its true potential. And likewise, I do believe that my path cannot be that of a solitary hero in the future. I just don't have the versatility of Kite or self-sufficiency of Dragonfly. Like Serene, I will need to surround myself with good people, no matter what the other scions would think of the matter."

Grim regarded his charge for a while, comparing his mental image of the brash teen with the, admittedly, still brash young man before him. But there was something more solid about Will these days, even though he usually wore his heroic facade the same as before.

"I believe that young master has grown just a little bit wiser. And that you have already cultivated companions to stand by you, to shore up your path and add your strength to theirs. In most places in this world, such teamwork is the lauded norm rather than the mere necessity our culture likes to tell itself."

"Yes, Grim. You are right. They are wonderful companions. But I also have the feeling that our paths will not always intersect. Dragonfly has already left, and it feels like the winds of fate aim to bring Kite a lot further than the Autumn lands. While I still have duties here, above being an adventurer."

"It seems like you have some matters of import to broach with your lord father when we return." Grim said, the statement ringing true to Will's reluctant mind.

"And you are right in that as well, Grim. I will do that." he said, before his eyes caught a bit of the usual gleam Grim knew heralded some of his charge's more stubborn streaks.

"But do not believe that me becoming the Saint of Spears, wielding my Heavenly Shaft to shatter iniquity is anything but confirmed. I will grasp this fate, Grim. Every Saint will need his boon companions after all." Years of practice allowed Grim to keep his neutral facade, stifling the internal groan that Will's shenanigans usually tried to force from him. Instead, he only nodded.

"Very good, young master." After that day, Serene joined Kite in the mobility training in order to get used to her new body, although she eschewed most of any sparring in favor of more proper aura training. Apparently, her church had already supplied her with meditations to expand her control now that she wielded something a lot more potent, quadruply so due to her fourfold aura. This left Will going on with the final push alone under Walker's oversight.

The silver ranker was more than enough to keep him safe should something happen, and had some supplementary healing abilities to assist in case of injury. The healing nectar and berries his plants could produce did by no means bring him close to a proper healer's capabilities, but to an injured iron-ranker, the potent magic was like a breath of life. Mistress Dew ran them both quite hard, and especially Kite whose focus remained on sparring.

But he was eventually introduced to another set of skills that needed updating.

"Now that you have ranked up, there are a few more rituals that would be wise to add to your collection." Auntie Crow instructed him, allowing him to look through the book in question which showed the different diagrams and symbols.

"But Braid also told me that he had hopes of experimenting with the breaking of formations and arrays with the help of your abilities. He is a most studious young man, so I hope that you can indulge him if you find the time."

"I take it that he left a favorable impression?" Kite asked, already thinking that he knew the answer. The pair had spent a lot of time together on different projects when Braid and Wander had stayed with them, after all.

"Oh yes. Once he got over his initial nervousness, he proved to have a remarkably good grasp of the art for his age, as well as several novel ideas. I have even made sure to add a few to my collection. Knowing a capable crafter such as him is rarely a bad idea, Kite, so I recommend you keep him close. And possibly curtail his tendencies of academical hero worship a bit if possible." Crow finished, with an amused smile.

"I don't know him very well, but he seems like a very genuine person and I would not mind helping him out. I might need the art of array-breaking myself as well."

"As always, we seem to have raised a wise young man. Hopefully wise enough to not let his knowledge of rituals be left at the wayside." Auntie Crow finished, and their practice began in earnest. Kite couldn't help it as he let out a cry of joy and excitement at the sheer speed of his passage. The canopies of the forest passed by just a handful of meters beneath, becoming a blur of autumn colors as Glint's passage quickly covered the distance like a pink, shimmering comet trailing a tail of vapor.

"Have I told you that you are amazing?" he half shouted to the carp, and he could see that his message had come across as she wiggled happily beneath him. Since reaching bronze-rank, it was the enlarged state of the familiar which had gone through the most stark changes. Glint had slightly elongated, becoming a bit more serpentine in shape with a thinner and sharper snout rather than the gaping mouth of a fish.

She still retained her tendril-mustache, the two small appendages having grown longer and flowed around her in the wind of their passage. And her water-controlling powers had increased drastically, as she could now levitate larger quantities of water at a time and even conjure it by spending more mana. This was what allowed the impressive speed and height which the pair was currently traveling, as she could reach great speeds on open stretches when she had some time to accelerate and gather momentum.

Kite also held hopes of her assisting him more actively in combat, as her bronze-rank body was a lot more resilient than her earlier one. While they had no trouble weaving between the cliff spires, Kite was almost thrown off when the pair tried making a sharper turn to avoid a flying iron-ranked monster which had flown down to investigate if the speeding thing was something to eat.

While the monster had been left wanting, scared off by a burst of Kite's aura, it had also served as a reminder that the dangerous creatures were drawn to fast-moving things, and Kite would have to choose his moments to use her as a mode of travel. As dusk was almost upon them, the pair was just heading back as Kite felt a nudge from Sage.

"Let us stop at that peak before heading home." Kite said to his familiar-turned-mount, making sure to accompany the words with a clear mental image. After getting thrown off as Glint halted a bit too abruptly, Kite noted that there was a bit more practice needed in this regard as well while he was attempting to rid his now soaking wet armor and clothes of gravel and dirt.

The water in question came from Glint as well, who had conjured a huge ball of water to arrest his flight, causing him to tumble into the cliff slightly dazed but unhurt.

"Once more, you are the best." he said with a slight groan, more out of habit as he once more marveled at his bronze-rank body and its resiliency.

"Let us see if we can't get up there and see what Sage felt." While Glint could levitate above the treetops now, it was still not true flight. But Kite's evolved force wall allowed him to scale the cliff surprisingly easy as he conjured the panes of force into a makeshift stair. Another perk of bronze-rank; it was easier to visualize more split up and complex formations for the spell.

As they arrived at the top, Kite gave the mental command to Sage to nudge the gathered magic, which gave rise to the typical vortex of rainbow smoke.

"Fortune be praised! It seems to be a treasure." Kite said, lowering his ready stance in case it was yet another monster which would appear. Knowing that the process would take a short while, he took the time to admire the view. The forests of his home had always looked their best at dusk and dawn, where the colors of the sky heightened the shifting nuances below.

"It has been truly good to be home for so long." he said to Glint as the carp floated up beside him.

"Looking?" The concept was emoted by Sage as it too floated up beside him, also giving Kite the feeling that it was a question rather than a statement.

"Yes, Sage. The sunset is quite beautiful, and it takes me back to happy memories from the time when I grew up." The familiar seemed to gaze at the vista for a short while.

"Disappointing." It gave its statement before floating over to inspect a moss-covered boulder, apparently much more interesting to the alien being's senses. Kite just shook his head with a smile, walking over to where the manifestation was just about done.

"It seems like Fortune was even kinder than I had hoped." He said, recognizing the shape of an awakening stone. What finally appeared was a stone which matched the colors of the current sky very well, giving the hint that a sun had just disappeared out of sight at its center. WWJS: [Item] Awakening stone of Twilight Unranked - Rare An awakening stone containing the concept of dusk and endings"Well Glint, Fortune is poetic as well." Kite said, as the concept of the stone was rather obvious.

Feeling a bit poetic, he continued.

"This is indeed the dusk of an important part of our lives. May we see what morning brings. Together." About two weeks after Serene, it was finally time. Will sat ready in the same spot at the edge of the garden as those who came before him, although heating lamps had been placed near him to ward off the evening chill. While Kite had seen excitement in each face of those seated in that spot, none wore it as openly as his noble friend.

The young scion had a grin on his face even as he meditated, and the expected glow from within emerged not long after; a bronze glow which started streaming out from him as his aura surged outward. Apparently unable to help himself, Will jumped to his feet even as the glow was still fading from him, conjuring his spear in a triumphant pose.

"Hear me heavens! I am now one step closer to you. Witness my Heavenly Sha-" he began, but was unfortunately not able to finish his grand proclamation as the realities of ranking up hit him in full. Grim had already begun making his way over, producing a folding screen to shield his charge from view as the normal sounds of misery were heard from the other side. Fresh from the experience, Kite, Walker and Serene all winced slightly in sympathy.

However, the noble did not let this put a damper on the rest of his evening, celebrating to his heart's content even in the humble surroundings.

"One would have thought that the son of a city lord would scoff at our humble home." Auntie Crow said as she joined Kite in fetching more tea.

"But he has so far seemed to enjoy it."

"That is Will for you." Kite chuckled.

"He has a tendency to just embrace the situation and enjoy most things, rich as well as humble." This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"Then he will at least not want for joy in his life. An admirable trait." she said, closing the door behind them as they entered the kitchen.

"Then I will assume that it is soon time for you to depart?" Kite stopped from where he was retrieving a jar of dried herbs, looking at his auntie.

"I suppose it is." he said, with a bit of mixed emotions.

"While part of me just wants to stay longer, another…" he trailed off, looking out through the small kitchen window.

"Another wants to see all the other things the world has to show you." Crow filled in, nodding at him.

"You are an adventurer now, Kite. And from what your stories tell, you are also shaping up to be a fine one."

"And an annoying one, if some of my opponents are to be believed." he said with a grin.

"You did call it auntie. Back when I had just set foot at iron rank."

"I do hold true to those words. Your auntie will be proud if you can annoy some more arrogant young masters and mistresses on your travels." she said before turning more serious.

"But I would also want to give you some more advice, little Kite, if you still want such words from your old auntie?"

"I would be a fool not to."

"Then listen well. While the Autumn lands are my home, and its forests are very dear to me, the southerners do have one thing right about it; that it is rural. Even the two sects are not of the same quality as many in the south, and most of the more talented local students soon travel towards greener pastures and join more prestigious ones. While I have no doubts in your talent, little Kite, remember that most of those you have faced here so far are those who were unworthy or incapable of doing so.

Do not underestimate the sects and their students, should you travel south. While I would still not recommend joining one, as the structure and politicking remains the same, there is still more to be had from working along them. You have shown due caution so far, and I believe that you will find your way there as well. But please take your auntie's words to heart." Kite absorbed her statements in silence, mulling them over before nodding.

"Thank you, auntie. I will take that to heart, lest I start to cultivate the pride that has reaped too much misery in these lands already."

"Good boy." she said, patting one of his hands.

"But I also have something else for you. Some history as well as possible assistance." As he nodded expectantly at her, Crow continued.

"I have not told you this, but I come from the south as well. From a city named Cinnabar Rise."

"That's… not too far from the capitol, right?"

"Indeed. And what you do not know is that your auntie's former clan is rather famous. Have you ever heard of the Tengu?"

"No… No I do not think so."

"Should you travel south, you will surely hear of her. The Tengu and her murder of Crows. It is one of the most famous assassin clans in these lands." Kite was a bit taken aback by the revelation.

"Your family are assassins?"

"Not all of them, I assure you." Crow said, chuckling a bit.

"But quite a lot of them, yes. And before you ask, little Kite, I am not. In the clan, we each get a choice when we come of age to absorb essences. Should we choose to join the family's main business, our essences will be gifted to us accordingly. And those such as me, those who do not choose that path, we get another set of essences deemed more fitting for us. Many still stay to perform other roles and tasks, and some leave to find their own fortune."

"But- but what does that mean? Are you hunted? Would someone try-" Kite began, only to falter when Crow waved away his worried questions.

"I do understand that the term assassin might indicate that the clan is hidden, pursued by the forces of justice. But you need to know Kite, that the political landscape of Heavenward and the heartlands are anything but simple. In fact, it is a place where a clan of assassins may live openly, viewed as just another tool in that world of intrigue and pride. In many circles, the Crow clan is even quite esteemed." Kite tried imagining such a society, and had to admit defeat.

"That… the capital sounds like a complex place. Terrifying even."

"Good, then that point has come across at least." Auntie Crow said, nodding at his statement.

"But in all honesty, the contracts to directly target individuals are apparently rather few, and those are mostly to hunt down those who flee the grievances and judgment of their peers. Most of the Crow clan are active adventurers. And while there have been attempts at retribution against the clan in the past by some party who took their interference a bit too personal, it does help that the Tengu and her consort are both gold-rankers, and rather powerful ones at that."

"Do you have any contact with them? Your clan? Or family?"

"No, although it is not forbidden. But the clan is decently sized, so I would not claim to even have met most of them. Us not reaching out to one another is more a consequence of distance and my choice to leave. It was not the life I wanted, after all. But as for contact, I do have a reason for telling you this, Kite. Should you find yourselves in the south in the future, the Crow clan might be a source of contacts and allies. Even us 'lost eggs' are still considered family, as are our offspring.

And I am quite sure that you would still count, as you are my child in all but blood. If you ever meet them, telling them my name and our relation will at least get you the benefit of the doubt and them looking into the matter. I even took the liberty of sending them a letter to update them on my situation as well as our relationship. It has been just over two decades, but I would be very surprised if the Crow clan had forgotten me." All of this had Kite look at his auntie in a slightly new light.

She had always been disciplined; fond of protocol and a stickler for training and repetition. To not give away more than necessary to those she did not want to. Imagining her growing up in such a, to him, alien environment did make some pieces fall into place.

"Then… thank you, Auntie Crow. For sharing, and for the assistance. Even now that I am rather grown, you never cease to take care of me."

"Oh, little Kite." she said, giving him a hug.

"A parent's duty is never over. It might just start taking on different shapes as the years go by."

"Then if-""I do sense that you have more questions, little chick, but I believe that we'd best save some of them for later. They are waiting for us and the tea. Go celebrate your friend's achievement. We can speak more of my path at a later time." Following those words, she all but shooed him out of the kitchen, carrying three freshly brewed teapots in strands of animated hair.

"I… Thank you. Both of you." It was Serene who first broke the silence. She sat with the other two freshly minted bronze-rankers, looking up at the night sky. The celebration had died down a bit, and Kite had shown his two friends his favorite spot on the slanted roof of the guest cabin, where one could lean back and watch the skies. Both Kite and Will looked her way, and she continued.

"A year and a half ago, I would not have thought it possible for me to reach bronze rank by now. There were even times I almost gave up on the thought. And while I know that taking me along was not only some kind of mercy, that I have not been some kind of burden, my gratitude still stands. You have both allowed me to lean on your paths for strength, and I want you to know that you can always lean on mine for spirit and aid."

"Well, if we are in the process of conveying our gratitude, allow me to do the same." Will said, taking up the conversation after the short silence after Serene's words.

"Many say that the climb towards the heavens is a lonely one, but you have both shown me that the saying is quite false. And my father too, I suppose, although I hope neither of you will tell him that. Thank you, for taking me along and for supporting my most singular of paths. I am honored to call you my friends. Even should our paths diverge, I will ever cherish these memories and do my utmost for them to meet again."

"In a way these days have been the first of our new lives. Where we have been reforged and tempered into something more. I will remember them for the rest of my days, and always thank Fortune that we happened to be brought together." Kite said, continuing.

"It is most serendipitous what good that may come from looking at just the right note at the boards of the Adventure Society." The last comment elicited a laugh from them all, Will's voice accompanied by the chiming sound of Serene giggling.

"And to Dragonfly, wherever you are. Thank you as well. You know why." Kite finished, looking out over the horizon. They all knew that this was not by any means goodbye, but also that the future was just a bit less certain. Both Will and Serene had other duties, and Kite… He had yet to find out where his path would take him. Hopefully, it would at least be in good company. From there, the conversation slid onto more light matters, the trio content in reminiscing about their travels.

Kite had even zoned out slightly, his mind left wandering the winding, branching road of memory, when he was brought back to the present by Serene looking at him a bit more intensely than before. And from the mischievous glint in the priestess' eyes, Kite suddenly knew that found himself in trouble.

"Kite, I couldn't help but to note certain… fluttering … in your aura now that your mind wandered. I wonder now why that could be?" she asked, giving him a meaningful look in one of her rare showings of her teasing side.

"Ehm, surely, you are mistaken-" Kite began, but it was too late. Will had picked up on Serene's curiosity.

"No need to be ashamed, my friend. My mind wanders a lot too. Were you perhaps daydreaming of the future? Of heroic deeds, and true love's chaste embrace?" The young noble's question might have seemed full of meaning, but to all present it was clear that it stemmed from the same almost unbelievable, earnest naivety Will showed in many matters of the heart. Kite considered trying to wave the subject away, but he knew that Serene wouldn't let him off the hook so easily. So he chose to forge on.

It might even be a good lesson for his rather oblivious friend. At least he hoped so.

"Well… not really. More of past love, to be honest." Kite said a bit tentatively.

"Past… love?" Will asked, seeming almost unable to grasp the concept.

"Yes, past. There was a girl. Here. In the village. When I grew up." Kite continued, stopping often in the hopes that Will would finally grasp the meaning. As the young noble's eyes widened, he felt hope rise in his chest.

"You mean… One of those relationships you told me about? One outside… marriage?" Kite's hopes were dashed, as his friend looked torn between being scandalized and intensely curious.

"Kite, my friend. I- I never thought you to be such a rogue!" he proceeded to exclaim, only to continue with more questions.

"Who was she? Was she the fairest in all the lands? Were you denied courting her by her family? Did you… did you hold hands?"

"Why- I-" Kite began, but realizing that he was in the deep end now, there was no other way he could take but forward.

"Her name was Brook. We grew up together, and when we came of age the friendship became more than that. The memories are sweet ones, filled with the earnest love of teenagers. Her family did like me, and had they not moved many years ago, I don't know where we would have been today. But she did move. I never thought I would get over it. But as with most things, time gave way to wisdom. And yes, we did hold hands. On this very roof, in fact." he finished.

During all of his telling, Will had listened with rapt attention. When Kite fell silent, he looked down at the wood tiles, then back at Kite.

"Well, as I said. Kite, you rogue." During this short break, when Will was staring at the roof in half-horror, half-excitement, Kite once more met Serene's eyes. She nodded. Kite shook his head. Serene nodded again. And Kite was on the way to suggesting they all head to bed, when she stole his initiative by speaking.

"Will, from Kite's reaction I do believe that it was not only hand holding which occurred here, or between them."

"What- what do you mean? What more is there? No, wait- do you mean… those non-platonic hugs you told me about, Kite?" After giving a withering look to the priestess, who in turn did an impressive job of keeping her facade calm and demure, Kite looked to his friend. And after taking a long breath, he decided that it was time. That night, a certain young noble learned quite a lot about the more free aspects of relationship and intimacy. Kite just hoped that Will's spirit would eventually recover, bronze-rank or not.

Kite was a bit misty-eyed when he once more hugged his aunties farewell. They were all standing by the gate, under an overcast sky which hinted that the first light snowfall of winter might soon be upon them. His stay back home had been a transformative one, and Kite literally left as something more than when he arrived.

Spending those days with his friends and family had been the best he could ask for to wind down and consolidate himself after the intensity and violence of war, and Kite felt that he had to properly thank the branch director for this opportunity once he returned. Maybe even sell him a trio of essences.

"Take care now, little chick." Crow said, giving him one last hug.

"As you know, your aunties will start working hard now as well."

"I look forward to seeing you as magnificent silver-rankers in the future, auntie. You will be radiant, as always. Both of you."

"We really did raise such a nice young man, didn't we Dove." Auntie Crow said, turning to her wife who was still dabbing at the tears which rarely stopped flowing during farewells, only managing a nod.

"But I will see you again for the surge. Unless something hinders me, I will make sure to join you here in the fortress town." he said, giving them both a long look to imprint them in his now improved memory. Auntie Dove, all warmth and passion, with her long mass of brown curls and ever-rosy cheeks. And Auntie Crow, her strict and dark exterior hiding a sharp mind and ever-flowing font of care.

"I love you both. Take care, and may Fortune care for us all until we meet again." Kite finally said, tearing himself away and waving as he started walking down toward Grim who waited by an open portal. Another more surprising gain during their stay had been that the elf manservant's portal ability had finally reached silver rank. This had greatly eased the process of procuring more supplies, and had even allowed mistress Dew to step through and drastically shorten their journey.

What had taken Kite weeks on foot the first time he left, would now take but a day or two as they could all portal-hop back toward the city. He gave his aunties and his home village one last look, then nodded to Grim before stepping through. Once more, he left his home. And once more, he promised himself to return. But first, he would experience so much more. As Uncle Walker had said, iron-rank and its tribulations had helped them learn which kind of adventurer they wanted to be.

And during bronze-rank, it would be up to him to further temper himself; being reforged into that very image. Kite's path remained his own, but he already knew it would remain a path of friendship and new meetings. Of enemies fought and allies aided. Because the world would be moved by his path. And his path would be made indestructible by the bonds he forged." A golden beam rises from the young man's conjured blade, descending like heavenly punishment as the earth beneath is shattered.

His black hair flutters in the gust as the iron-ranked monsters are annihilated. After such a long wait, he has been made complete through a twist of fate and karma. The symbolism of his benefactor's final gift will not be forgotten. He will indeed grow. Between the vast archive shelves, a young woman toils, memories of rural childhood a rare, but fond, visitor. She keeps her head down, preferring the company of the few even as she works hard. One particular reward for a work well done changes her life forever.

While she does not know exactly what her future holds, she at least knows that she is fond of the path walked so far. But there is still something unresolved in her past, a thread cut before it could run its course. She has resigned herself to it, but still cannot resist to wonder what could have been. Chains follow their dancer, more numerous and stronger than ever before. The dancer in question is a young woman, and her motions weave her web of control and domination.

There are always those who would need power applied without questions asked, and as such, her dance and growth may continue. Because there are answers she demands, and she will get them even if they must be torn from the heavens themselves. She is the divider and the unifier, the one who takes two things and remakes them into one whose sum is more than its pieces. But she is also hampered and hindered; chains of rivalry tying her down when all she wants is to soar to the very heights of creation.

Forced to even greater risks to be able to walk her path, recklessness will throw her into a crucible with the potential of an inglorious death but also the stairway to the heavens from her dreams. He is the tempest, his blades; the whirlwind. But he needs to be more. For himself, his family and his city. His pace is one of breakneck speed and absolute skill, his momentum something precious that can not be allowed to be forsaken.

But unbeknownst to him, there are those who would like nothing more than to see him stumble and fall. And behind them, something wicked stirs.