Chương 49: Appointments

All in all, Jordan walked away from the shantytown with a new friend, some background information on Garuda Akula, and several system updates. Item acquired. [The Survivor's Doll]: Recovered from the burnt wreckage of a shantytown house. May be of sentimental value to certain individuals who once called Featherift City home. Weight: 1 lb. Affliction incurred. [Self-conscious Conformist]: It's harsh but true. You're just not cool enough to be a trendsetter.

Penalty (-2) to all rolls in social settings while wearing an Item that clashes with your sensibilities. This Affliction is suppressed by removing the offending Item or by achieving Charisma of 18 or higher. New Feat unlocked. [Look Back to Look Forward]: It ain't used to be like this. Well, it doesn't have to be, because your best times are still ahead of you. Gain proficiency (+2) in ability checks against humans 55 or older.

Unlike scrolls and pendants that looked perfectly at home hanging from a waist sash, the half-burnt Cabbage Patch Kid was a truly jarring addition to Jordan's attire. It likely didn't help that he was also accompanied by a woman wrapped from head to toe in dark-gray. But this part of the arrangement was about to come to an end, whether Jordan liked it or not.

"I must needs return to work," Canyon said as the pair strolled through the alleyways of a relatively quiet residential area.

"Madam Thousand is no stickler, but not even she could abide by an employee neglecting their duties for hours on end."

"And it's about time I made my way over to the Sapling estate," Jordan mused aloud, thinking back to the most recent city bell that had announced the hour of the Monkey.

"You don't sound particularly happy about it." Jordan didn't know what to say to that. He of course knew the reason (two reasons, in fact) for his unhappiness. The first reason he couldn't divulge without essentially gossiping about his good friend. The second he couldn't without gossiping about himself —and in front of the worst possible audience. Charisma DC 18: failure N üwa: "I've just about run out of patience with you, lordlet. If you won't put an end to this…

this shilly-shallying one way or another, then I'll have to take matters into my own hands." Jordan ignored the God-of-Charisma's empty threat. He also chose to kick the 'shilly-shallying' can down the road for future Jordan to deal with.

"Hey, uh, before we split… do you reckon you got any further along on your investigation?"

"Very much so. The additional context will be invaluable for when I manage to interview Akula. Of course, in order for that to happen, I still have to find the Garuda herself."

"Yeah, about that. I think I might have an idea of how to make that happen."

"You did make a rather bold claim earlier, Jordan Yu. I should hope that you have some means of following through." Jordan glanced at Canyon, unsure whether she was being serious. And judging by the flames dancing behind her eyes, the answer was yes, very.

"Yeah, so that might take some time on my end," Jordan asserted, doing his darnedest to hold his nerve.

"Will you be around, you think? To receive my updates?" A slight shift in Canyon's scarf. Jordan could almost convince himself that she'd smiled.

"There's still more research I can do in the city," the Chronicler concluded.

"And if you're offering to help with my quest, then I've no reason to refuse."

"Sweet!" Jordan couldn't help but smile in relief. He then reached for his pocket—or where his pocket would've been if he were in Earthling attire. It was true what they said about old habits dying hard. Case in point: he'd just tried to exchange phone numbers with Canyon! The pair soon came upon the maze that would lead back to the White Dragon House. They parted with a few perfunctory words of farewell, even as Jordan played out the whole is-this-a-hug-type-situation-or-not panic in his head.

Thankfully, the principles of Stormvaster decorum left no room for interpretation. For Canyon merely performed a polite bow paired with a palm-over-fist, before turning and leaving. Only long after the Chronicler had disappeared into the maze did Jordan suddenly remember…" The poem!" Yes. That rather dicey quatrain he and Canyon had co-authored in a fit of madness. In all the uproar over their mutual discovery and the subsequent discussions over tea, the scribe had forgotten to hand over the finished product.

In fact, Jordan didn't even get to sign his own letter! Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He spun to head back to the teahouse, then thought better of it. The poem had, albeit after twists and turns, ended up in the right hands. No sense drawing even more attention to what had already been an immensely embarrassing incident. Besides, if everything went according to Jordan's latest plan, he and Canyon would catch up again soon enough.

It was with some lingering reluctance that Jordan turned his thoughts from one friend to another. The hour of the Rooster (5 pm, oddly enough) was nigh, and he was expected at the Sapling estate. Except… if Jordan had read the morning's interaction correctly, his presence wasn't exactly welcomed by Saplings not named Pewter. The vibes had definitely been off, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to step into some messy family drama. I could just find somewhere else to stay. I've got money now.

Probably have enough to pay for an inn or some such. Wisdom DC 13: success Shennong:"And renege on your promise to the young Tetherer? Methought your friendships were worth more to you than that, young one." Ouch. Maybe the most cutting thing gentle Shennong had ever said to him. Yet the God of Wisdom was right, of course. Jordan might well be in for an exceedingly awkward evening, spent as an unwanted guest at a rich businessman's house. But at least he'd be there if his friend needed him.

And so, Jordan carried himself back to the noisy industrial district—considerably less noisy now, two hours or so before curfew. He stood before the biggest estate around and resolved to rap the tiger-head door knocker. The gate swung open almost immediately. Jordan was met by a Lv. 8 Porter—an older gentleman whose [Character Sheet] showed no relation to the Sapling name.

"Gatekeeper Yu," the man greeted Jordan with the same gesture with which Canyon had bid farewell. As he straightened, his eyes briefly fell upon the [Doll] at Jordan's waist.

"We've been expecting you. Please, follow me." This guy must be the family butler or something to that effect. So far, no hostility detected. The old Porter was unfailingly polite if somewhat aloof. Jordan allowed himself to hope that he'd perhaps read too much into the morning's events. It took some time for that hope to be quashed. It happened in a stepwise manner, the evidence mounting until it became undeniable. The estate itself was enormous and beautiful. Like a fancier, prettier version of the city barracks.

It started with a courtyard that doubled as an intricately designed garden: polished flagstone, manicured shrubbery, and tasteful water features. The Porter took Jordan through a pleasantly winding path before depositing him inside a small building. It looked to be a reception room of sorts, furnished with red sandalwood and decorated by ink paintings. Jordan seated himself at one of two chairs on either side of a square table, the kind that sat flush with the wall and faced out to the rest of the room.

There, he waited in pensive silence, growing more nervous by the minute. Not for the first time, he imagined his own mother having this strange yet familiar adventure in his place. Mom would've enjoyed it a lot more than me, I'll bet. It would've been practically dream come true for her. Did that mean it definitely wasn't a dream come true for Jordan? Hard to say. Would've been helpful to know if he even had a dream to speak of. For now, though, he could only say that the answer was inconclusive.

The door slid open to break Jordan out of his reverie. The newcomer was someone he'd already met. One Nickel Sapling—Pewter's tall, sturdy, and stern older brother.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, Gatekeeper Yu." Nickel too gave the traditional greeting, smiling warmly where the Porter had been rigidly mechanical. If any hard feelings had lingered from the morning, he didn't show it.

"No, no… please sit." Jordan, mid-getting-up-to-return-the-greeting, did as he was asked. Nickel strode over with a smooth, powerful movement, looking like someone who might have undergone some military training himself.

"A Westerner in our very own Featherift City," Nickel marveled as soon as he joined Jordan at the table, "and serving in the Emperor's army, no less! Tell me, traveler, how are you getting along?" Jordan obliged the older Sapling brother, giving an abridged biography of his time in Stormvast. Naturally, most of it centered on his highly regimented life in the city barracks, which… didn't exactly make for the most exciting tale.

But Nickel listened actively and without a hint of boredom, occasionally reaching across the table to top up Jordan's teacup. And so it went, until Jordan finally got to the 'good part'. Namely the infamous field trip that ended with fighting a tornado. Jordan was especially psyched to tell this story, not least in order to big up Pewter in front of the older brother. Yet, as he rolled up his sleeves to do just that…

"And how are you finding our city proper?" Nickel interjected—an abrupt change in subject.

"I trust you've had a chance to take in some sights and sounds?"

"Y—yes," Jordan stammered, "but I was going to tell you about—""Have you been to the Fragrant Yak? If not, I must take you there on the morrow. The best braised bear paw in the whole province." It was all Jordan could do to keep a straight face.

'Braised bear paw' is absolutely wild, but there's something else bothering me even more.

"Uh, that sounds good… I think? But I was just wondering if Pewter is around? He and I were supposed to—""Yes, much gratitude is in order, Gatekeeper Yu. On behalf of our family, allow me to thank you for your companionship with my brother. Now, all this talk about bear paws has stoked my appetite. Luckily, our kitchen staff have been hard at work all day in anticipation of your visit. Please. Follow me to the dining hall." This place has its own dining hall?

Jordan might have been more impressed if he weren't so mystified instead. That was twice now that Nickel had deliberately changed the subject. And the non-answer he'd given about Pewter's whereabouts was the most obvious deflection this side of a Finch Quiverwing parry. But Nickel had already gotten to his feet, taking long strides that forced his guest to play catch up. And even as Jordan followed the older brother deeper into the Sapling estate, alarm bells were going off in multiple places.

Insight DC 12: success Something stinks in here. And unless I sniff out what it is, there's a non-zero chance that I might never see Pewter again…