Sun's clothes were cleaned and hung up to dry and Jin Li also washed up in fresh water, before the three headed to the Food Hall for a late dinner. Jin Li felt that guiding Leon would be too slow, so insisted the boy climb upon his back. "I c-c-c-can't d-d-do that!" Leon stuttered heavily with a slight squeak.
"Would you rather I carry you in my arms?" Jin Li sneered, causing Leon to blush brighter than a red lantern flower before he relented. Jin Li's back was firm and warm, and Leon felt ridiculously small and protected upon it. Holding onto his shoulders, his legs around Jin Li's waist, the man moved swiftly and smoothly through the trees. Leon felt the wind against his heated face and saw the darkening blur of brown and green rushing past the constant shape of black that was Jin Li.
Sun chatted amicably as he ran beside Jin Li. "It must have been due to the mission," he was saying, "don't you think, Jin Li? Sparring is one thing, but battling monsters is different! It was definitely a good experience, wasn't it Jin! We should take another mission soon!"
Leon thought to himself; didn't Jin Li say that the missions were not worth his time not so long ago. He couldn't help but wonder what had changed.
Naturally, with Jin Li and Sun's running speed, it did not take long to arrive at the Food Hall of the outer alchemist school. Many, who were leaving the courtyard to return to their huts for the night, turned to look at the two martial arts boys and the other currently shimming off the taller boy's back, who happened to glare at the alchemist students until most turned away. Those who didn't, looked coyly through half shuttered lashes. Who was this tall handsome man amongst them? And those two boys were quite adorable as well. One was cute with a sunny, round face, freckles upon his nose and a lop sided grin, the other was sweet with large black eyes that shimmered like polished jet set in a frame of white jade. When did such eye candy come to their neck of the mountain forest?
The three boys entered the Food Hall and a handful casually followed in their wake.
"Ah? Leo, be tha' you, lad?" Leon smiled as he was greeted by the amicable older woman who happened to be Mino's mother. "So it were your glasses that Mino be hurryin' down the mountain to fix!"
"Hmm," Leon nodded as he grasped Jin Li's sleeve.
"Sit, sit!" She encouraged. "I'll grab yous summin' ta eat!"
"Thank you, ma'am," Jin Li said, politely and Sun added his thanks, quietly, not used to the brashness of commoners. Most would cower or remain respectful in front of his family, not greet them with such... enthusiasm. Sun sighed inwardly, before straightening himself, if Jin Li could treat servants and commoners with respect then so could he!
Sun watched as Jin Li practically fell upon the food that was brought with them with little restraint, but he did recall, in between mouthfuls, to make sure that Leon's bowl was filled with vegetables and rice and (almost reluctantly) pieces of meat. Sun ate conservatively; the food really wasn't any better than that of the martial arts school, worse; there was less meat to pick from.
After their meal was done and Leon was given a selection of edibles for his morning meal so that he did not need to blindly make his way back to the Hall then, they leisurely wandered out into the courtyard. The light globes were glowing as they dangled beneath the branches of the trees and held in frames about the Halls. Sun yawned, despite himself, the day really had been eventful and long. He could do with a settling to sleep now. Stretching his arms, to the sky, before placing them behind his head, he turned to Jin Li to ask what their plans were for the night to come. Jin Li was kneeling before Leon.
"Get on," he instructed. Leon gently placed a hand upon Jin Li's back, the tips of his fingers barely touching it.
"C-can't I walk f-for a while?" Leon asked, resting his free hand on his full stomach. Walking was good for digestion, even if he was pretty much blind now that the sun had set. Sitting upon Jin Li's back stirred feelings.
"No, this Lord does not wish to dally around," Jin Li cut down his protests decisively. Leon sighed, giving up the fight before it had even begun. He didn't wish to be stranded by here, he wasn't certain that Jin Li would leave him behind if he argued, but he wasn't certain that he wouldn't.
Jin Li straightened and adjusted the slight load upon his back and inwardly sneered. He seemed to be putting all sorts of effort in for his servant today, serving him tea, carrying him around like a child, Leon should be honoured and grateful to this Lord! But it wasn't a bad feeling...
"We meet again," a soft, gentle voice distracted him from his thoughts and he came to see a girl standing before him. Her dark eyes were sheltered by long lashes, her pale skin was lightly enhanced by two spots of pale pink and she wore lemon yellow silk robes with white blossoms embroidered upon the hem.
Jin Li paused for a moment. Did he know her?
As if sensing his hesitation, coupled with irritation, Leon murmured into his ear; "Ah, I th-think th-that is M-Miss M-Merylin, M-Maimai's sister." Jin Li suppressed a shiver daring to run wild through his body.
"Who?" Unlike Leon, Jin Li did not whisper his words.
Sorry! I just realised that I forgot to post this this morning! Here it is!
The lovely, demure and 'favoured by the heavens' girl froze almost imperceptibly.
"I understand," she framed her words with just a hint of sadness, causing many of her fanboys to glare angrily at the arrogant youth. How dare he deny knowing the alchemist school's most precious Twin Lotuses! "We have met just the once before."
"Oh," Jin Li responded. And within the next moment, she had totally lost his interest as he had turned to speak with Sun. "I suppose it is too late for you to return to the martial arts school, now. You can go back tomorrow and let the dorm senior know I will not be returning for a few nights." The students of the martial arts school had some degree of freedom, but that did not mean that they could vanish without word.
The dorm senior, an older student elected by the Teachers, was aware, however, that Jin Li had an alchemist student 'in his care,' who he would visit from time to time. This was not such an unusual thing as a wise martial artist cultivated relationships with alchemists, blacksmiths and scholars in order to give themselves advantages in the future. And those talents relied on the strength of a martial artist to ensure their own futures weren't hindered.
"You attend the martial arts school," Merilyn grasping this fact. Of course the man worthy of her eyes was a martial artist and a talented one of his aura was anything to go by. "Are you in need of pills at all?" Of course, she was aware that Jin Li had a 'servant' who happened to be an alchemist, but she was secure in her talent. Her pills were likely to be much more attractive than that boy's.
"Miss Merylin's pills are always of the highest quality," one of her accompanying girls mentioned, freely. The boys, who had gathered about them like moths to a flame, all nodded in unison. The girls were sighing, feeling like they could not compete with Miss Merylin.
Sun glanced over at the one Leon had named Miss Merylin and instantly decided that she was not his type. Sure, she was beautiful and for a brief moment, he was as dazzled by her as he had been the girl alchemist he had met before in Leon's hut, but he then felt that he had seen this type of beauty before. In fact, he had lived with them. His older sisters and female cousins and their friends were always practicing such faces to snare the unwise heirs of other Houses, each trying to grasp a thigh thicker than the next. It was part of the reason he had convinced his father to send him to this school, his talent had painted a target on his own back!
The girls he had met in the martial arts school were different from those girls, he felt. They were all talented and strong, though some might seek a golden thigh, they tried to prove themselves worthy with their own strengths, not through false flattery and fluttering eyelashes. Leon's friend had also been different. She did not look at him through demure and secretly calculating eyes. Her interest had been openly calculating and maybe a little startling. But, she was very pretty.
"No need," Jin Li rebuffed her without another word and Sun grinned to himself. He knew he was right to follow Jin Li, Jin Li would not fall into this girl's trap!
"That is good then," Merylin responded, immediately, bowing her head slightly before glancing back up at him through pure and friendly eyes.
"Ah, but where should I stay tonight?" Sun asked Jin Li, suddenly.
"You c-can use m-my b-bed," Leon offered. "I should c-c-cultivate anyway." It had been long enough, surely Jin Li could not still think he should wait. Sun noticed that Jin Li did not look happy, but seeing as he had nothing to add, Sun accepted Leon's suggestion. It was only right anyway, he thought, forgetting that he had just promised himself to be nice to commoners and servants!
Merylin's usually perfectly calm and gentle facade suddenly fell as she came to realise that the alchemist boy she had ridiculed to herself as likely being beneath her in all terms, was currently sheltered upon the back of the man she liked! Why was her beau lowering himself to carry a servant!? A midst the confusion welling inside her, Jin Li sidestepped her and the group began their journey back to Leon's hut.
The crowd dispersed in its own time, after Miss Merylin had stormed away, uncaring of her reputation, back to her own accommodation.
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