When Ken left, Patriarch Newblade turned to his daughter. He clenched his fist, and then relaxed. He reached up to rub his forehead. “You foolish child of mine…”
“Father! How could you plan on giving me up as a maid?” Hana replied back, her brow filling with sweat. She had never seen her father behave like that before.
“Being his maid would be too good for the likes of you!” Patriarch Newblade exclaimed before he turned and marched off. After how much of a headache all the Elders had given him, to think his daughter would try to tear apart the relationship he had nurtured with the Arrayist.
He had been afraid that Ken coming in the wagon had meant war, but considering how humble and polite the crippled Arrayist had been, Patriarch Newblade could only help but think that Ken was actually trying to nurture a relationship with his family.
He sighed, hoping that they could continue working with one another. If he needed to force his daughter to become the Arrayist’s maid, then that’s what it would take.
Ken could only think about what the Patriarch was going through. The Patriarch had gone out of his way to show the cripple respect, and his daughter had drawn her sword against Ken. Still, she didn’t want to hurt him, just to scare him in some way, to show them the difference between one another.
Ken hadn’t been in danger though, with his array abilities, a Martial Apprentice didn’t threaten him at all. His wheelchair had a few arrays inked on it, and he also had a few talismans up his sleeves.
“Are you still angry?” Ken asked Chandi.
“Yes, master…”
“Forgive it, but don’t forget it.”
[Forgive, but don’t forget?]
Chandi took the words to mind, chewing them within her mind, but then putting them aside. She couldn’t be distracted at the moment, since they were currently out and she had to protect her master.
They ordered a public wagon, which took them to the Firewind estate. He noticed the two guards at the front gate and was wheeled up to them.
“Good afternoon. Arrayist Ken, wishing to speak with the Town Lord about a matter we had previously discussed.”
“We’ve been told to expect your arrival, Arrayist. We will ask for someone to escort you,” the guard replied back politely.
It was only moments later that a familiar face appeared. It was Tia, the pretty young lady, though she looked quite different today. She was no longer wearing her mask, instead revealing her bare face, one half which was still slightly red in comparison to the rest of her skin, but her smile was much brighter now.
“Alchemist Ken! This one greets you.” She placed her hands together respectfully.
“I greet you, Young Miss Tia Firewind,” Ken replied back, placing his hands together in respect. “I’m sorry for not standing to pay my respects.” He chuckled.
Tia blushed a little, unsure of how she should respond, but Ken just kept laughing.
“I didn’t expect you to be bullying my granddaughter, Arrayist Ken,” the Town Lord said as he appeared.
“This one greets you, Town Lord,” Ken said.
“I welcome you, Arrayist Ken. Have you come to speak about the matter of alchemy?”
“I have indeed. I was hoping to choose the treasures today so that I can start tomorrow.”
“Oh? A deposit?” Town Lord Firewind asked.
“Something like that.” Ken smiled.
“Since you’ve come, I can’t allow you to leave empty handed.” The Town Lord motioned with a hand for the Arrayist to follow him.
They made their way towards a building near the centre pavilion, and the Town Lord placed a hand on a small statue of a dragon, which then slid to the side, revealing some stairs.
Ken coughed slightly. “Well, this is awkward.”
“I apologise, Arrayist Ken. My forebearers did not expect that you would be coming to take our treasures.”
“How unfortunate. I should send a letter to them next time to let them know of my arrival.” He looked up to Chandi, her single arm, then to Yue, and then looked down at the stairs. “If I could have a few minutes to create an array.”
“There is no need for an array,” the Town Lord said, raising a finger, and Ken started to float. “Please excuse my intrusion.”
Ken rubbed the side of his neck. “It’s no matter,” he said, floating down the steps. There were hundreds of steps, which took quite the length of time to traverse down, until they finally landed down to be greeted by two dragons made of ruby. They were coiled together, locked within one another.
“I expected eagles,” Ken admitted.
“Our symbols are the eagles and dragons. Our ancestor was taught by both an eagle and a dragon, and has passed down many of his techniques down to us to master. The Fierce Eagle Claw Technique, as well as the Simple Fiery Dragon Technique.”
The Town Lord then revealed a token to the dragons, which began to move and unfurl, revealing the treasury beyond.
Ken’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the treasury. He wondered which items would take the goddess’ fancy, or if he would be free to choose between them all.
As he was wheeled inside, he saw a large number of treasures. The treasure here was larger than even his own family’s treasury, with countless weapons all across the walls made of materials he had never seen before, and hundreds of small trinkets which were either random magical items, or some of the most powerful items known to them.
“I’ll be choosing two, one for Alchemist Emerald’s behalf, and one of my own."
“If that was what was discussed between yourself and the honourable Alchemist.”
Ken nodded, and then started to look all around the treasury, letting Yue lead him along.
He went to the weapons first, noticing a number of swords. Since he had recovered use of his legs, he could finally practise with weapons again, and the sword was his family’s weapon.
It was then he noticed something. There was a sash which was curled up and on display. It was black in colour and there seemed to be nothing special about it.
“What’s this?” Ken asked, motioning to be taken to it.
“This is the Flimsy Black Sash, though don’t let the name fool you. It’s a…” the Town Lord stopped to try and find the words. “It’s an interesting item. It can be used for offence, defence, and utility.” He picked it up and then channelled his ki into it. Then the sash sprung to life, stretching all the way from the Town Lord to the end of the room, and it slapped the wall. Then it came back to the Town Lord, but wrapped around him all over like a dome of cloth.
“Wow…” Ken whispered as he watched how the cloth moved.
“Depending on the amount of ki you poured into the sash, and your will, you can make the sash do all kinds of things. Of course, if you end up fighting those who are above you in strength, the sash won’t be able to do much, but those around your level shouldn’t be able to deal with it so easily.”
“I want it!” Ken said, thinking about all the ways he could use the sash. “Ah, excuse me.” He cleared his throat. “I would like this for my first choice.”
“An interesting choice,” the Town Lord said, handing the sash over.
“For my second choice…” Ken looked back. “I like this sword.” It was a long curved blade made of ruby, with a sheathe made of white wood.
“Ah, that…” the Town Lord rubbed his beard, narrowing his eyes slightly. “That just so happens to be a sword which I promised to my son once he mastered the last form of the Simple Fiery Dragon Technique…”
“Since it’s awkward for me to claim it, then just forget I mentioned it. If there are any other items which you have promised, I will be sure to lower my gaze.” The sword was nice, but taking it may cause a rift between them. The Town Lord would appreciate the fact Ken was letting the matter drop.
Ken continued to look around at he various items he could pick. There were so many to choose from, he was unsure which he should take.
[[Just pick the hawk statue and be done with it! This queen is done with waiting for you, mortal!]]
“I’ll take the hawk statue in the back,” Ken said, pointing to a grew statue of a hawk which seemed to be made of normal stone.
The Town Lord stared at Ken for a moment, surprised to see him make such a choice.
“Is something wrong?” Ken asked, looking up at the Town Lord.
“No, nothing.” The Town Lord reached out a hand and the statue flew to his hand. He handed the statue to Ken.
“What does it do?”
“You wanted it without knowing what it did?”
Ken held it up. “Isn’t it cute?”
The Town Lord almost coughed up blood.
[You wanted one of the greatest treasures in the vault because it was cute?]
“This treasure is one which can turn into a hawk to allow you to fly. It’s abilities are much greater than that, since it’s abilities will be dependant on your level of cultivation.”
“Flight?” Ken’s eyes sparkled up at the Town Lord. “What an amazing treasure!” He looked down at it and then hummed quietly.
Though it was a deep price to pay, the fact that the Town Lord could ask Ken for more than fifty high grade earth pills of his choice, that was more than worth it.
When Ken left, Patriarch Newblade turned to his daughter. He clenched his fist, and then relaxed. He reached up to rub his forehead. “You foolish child of mine…”
“Father! How could you plan on giving me up as a maid?” Hana replied back, her brow filling with sweat. She had never seen her father behave like that before.
“Being his maid would be too good for the likes of you!” Patriarch Newblade exclaimed before he turned and marched off. After how much of a headache all the Elders had given him, to think his daughter would try to tear apart the relationship he had nurtured with the Arrayist.
He had been afraid that Ken coming in the wagon had meant war, but considering how humble and polite the crippled Arrayist had been, Patriarch Newblade could only help but think that Ken was actually trying to nurture a relationship with his family.
He sighed, hoping that they could continue working with one another. If he needed to force his daughter to become the Arrayist’s maid, then that’s what it would take.
Ken could only think about what the Patriarch was going through. The Patriarch had gone out of his way to show the cripple respect, and his daughter had drawn her sword against Ken. Still, she didn’t want to hurt him, just to scare him in some way, to show them the difference between one another.
Ken hadn’t been in danger though, with his array abilities, a Martial Apprentice didn’t threaten him at all. His wheelchair had a few arrays inked on it, and he also had a few talismans up his sleeves.
“Are you still angry?” Ken asked Chandi.
“Yes, master…”
“Forgive it, but don’t forget it.”
[Forgive, but don’t forget?]
Chandi took the words to mind, chewing them within her mind, but then putting them aside. She couldn’t be distracted at the moment, since they were currently out and she had to protect her master.
They ordered a public wagon, which took them to the Firewind estate. He noticed the two guards at the front gate and was wheeled up to them.
“Good afternoon. Arrayist Ken, wishing to speak with the Town Lord about a matter we had previously discussed.”
“We’ve been told to expect your arrival, Arrayist. We will ask for someone to escort you,” the guard replied back politely.
It was only moments later that a familiar face appeared. It was Tia, the pretty young lady, though she looked quite different today. She was no longer wearing her mask, instead revealing her bare face, one half which was still slightly red in comparison to the rest of her skin, but her smile was much brighter now.
“Alchemist Ken! This one greets you.” She placed her hands together respectfully.
“I greet you, Young Miss Tia Firewind,” Ken replied back, placing his hands together in respect. “I’m sorry for not standing to pay my respects.” He chuckled.
Tia blushed a little, unsure of how she should respond, but Ken just kept laughing.
“I didn’t expect you to be bullying my granddaughter, Arrayist Ken,” the Town Lord said as he appeared.
“This one greets you, Town Lord,” Ken said.
“I welcome you, Arrayist Ken. Have you come to speak about the matter of alchemy?”
“I have indeed. I was hoping to choose the treasures today so that I can start tomorrow.”
“Oh? A deposit?” Town Lord Firewind asked.
“Something like that.” Ken smiled.
“Since you’ve come, I can’t allow you to leave empty handed.” The Town Lord motioned with a hand for the Arrayist to follow him.
They made their way towards a building near the centre pavilion, and the Town Lord placed a hand on a small statue of a dragon, which then slid to the side, revealing some stairs.
Ken coughed slightly. “Well, this is awkward.”
“I apologise, Arrayist Ken. My forebearers did not expect that you would be coming to take our treasures.”
“How unfortunate. I should send a letter to them next time to let them know of my arrival.” He looked up to Chandi, her single arm, then to Yue, and then looked down at the stairs. “If I could have a few minutes to create an array.”
“There is no need for an array,” the Town Lord said, raising a finger, and Ken started to float. “Please excuse my intrusion.”
Ken rubbed the side of his neck. “It’s no matter,” he said, floating down the steps. There were hundreds of steps, which took quite the length of time to traverse down, until they finally landed down to be greeted by two dragons made of ruby. They were coiled together, locked within one another.
“I expected eagles,” Ken admitted.
“Our symbols are the eagles and dragons. Our ancestor was taught by both an eagle and a dragon, and has passed down many of his techniques down to us to master. The Fierce Eagle Claw Technique, as well as the Simple Fiery Dragon Technique.”
The Town Lord then revealed a token to the dragons, which began to move and unfurl, revealing the treasury beyond.
Ken’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the treasury. He wondered which items would take the goddess’ fancy, or if he would be free to choose between them all.
As he was wheeled inside, he saw a large number of treasures. The treasure here was larger than even his own family’s treasury, with countless weapons all across the walls made of materials he had never seen before, and hundreds of small trinkets which were either random magical items, or some of the most powerful items known to them.
“I’ll be choosing two, one for Alchemist Emerald’s behalf, and one of my own."
“If that was what was discussed between yourself and the honourable Alchemist.”
Ken nodded, and then started to look all around the treasury, letting Yue lead him along.
He went to the weapons first, noticing a number of swords. Since he had recovered use of his legs, he could finally practise with weapons again, and the sword was his family’s weapon.
It was then he noticed something. There was a sash which was curled up and on display. It was black in colour and there seemed to be nothing special about it.
“What’s this?” Ken asked, motioning to be taken to it.
“This is the Flimsy Black Sash, though don’t let the name fool you. It’s a…” the Town Lord stopped to try and find the words. “It’s an interesting item. It can be used for offence, defence, and utility.” He picked it up and then channelled his ki into it. Then the sash sprung to life, stretching all the way from the Town Lord to the end of the room, and it slapped the wall. Then it came back to the Town Lord, but wrapped around him all over like a dome of cloth.
“Wow…” Ken whispered as he watched how the cloth moved.
“Depending on the amount of ki you poured into the sash, and your will, you can make the sash do all kinds of things. Of course, if you end up fighting those who are above you in strength, the sash won’t be able to do much, but those around your level shouldn’t be able to deal with it so easily.”
“I want it!” Ken said, thinking about all the ways he could use the sash. “Ah, excuse me.” He cleared his throat. “I would like this for my first choice.”
“An interesting choice,” the Town Lord said, handing the sash over.
“For my second choice…” Ken looked back. “I like this sword.” It was a long curved blade made of ruby, with a sheathe made of white wood.
“Ah, that…” the Town Lord rubbed his beard, narrowing his eyes slightly. “That just so happens to be a sword which I promised to my son once he mastered the last form of the Simple Fiery Dragon Technique…”
“Since it’s awkward for me to claim it, then just forget I mentioned it. If there are any other items which you have promised, I will be sure to lower my gaze.” The sword was nice, but taking it may cause a rift between them. The Town Lord would appreciate the fact Ken was letting the matter drop.
Ken continued to look around at he various items he could pick. There were so many to choose from, he was unsure which he should take.
[[Just pick the hawk statue and be done with it! This queen is done with waiting for you, mortal!]]
“I’ll take the hawk statue in the back,” Ken said, pointing to a grew statue of a hawk which seemed to be made of normal stone.
The Town Lord stared at Ken for a moment, surprised to see him make such a choice.
“Is something wrong?” Ken asked, looking up at the Town Lord.
“No, nothing.” The Town Lord reached out a hand and the statue flew to his hand. He handed the statue to Ken.
“What does it do?”
“You wanted it without knowing what it did?”
Ken held it up. “Isn’t it cute?”
The Town Lord almost coughed up blood.
[You wanted one of the greatest treasures in the vault because it was cute?]
“This treasure is one which can turn into a hawk to allow you to fly. It’s abilities are much greater than that, since it’s abilities will be dependant on your level of cultivation.”
“Flight?” Ken’s eyes sparkled up at the Town Lord. “What an amazing treasure!” He looked down at it and then hummed quietly.
Though it was a deep price to pay, the fact that the Town Lord could ask Ken for more than fifty high grade earth pills of his choice, that was more than worth it.
