The jarring sound of metal clashing upon metal echoed throughout the outer school arena, but this first ringing noise was followed in quick succession by the same again and again. The two swords crossed paths again, but there was an angry pause, before the wielders of both pushed back with force, sliding across the stone floor, before retaking their stances. Both of the wielders were strong, both were skilled, but one was emersed in a silent fury that was impairing his judgement. He was quickly suppressed by the other.
"Enough!" Bowyer declared, feeling dissatisfaction from this fight. "Jin Li, What is wrong with you? Your mind is not in this arena."
Jin Li refused to meet his gaze, turning his face to the side as he denied Bowyer's observation. "It's nothing."
The man sighed. He'd been looking forward to this spar with the youth; it was always a challenge to meet with Jin Li's unusual moves and in there lie a certain thrill that he couldn't experience elsewhere in this school. His Teacher had taught him too well! Only the higher cultivation of his seniors could now suppress him, their techniques were generally worse than his own. Jin Li's cultivation was only a half step lower than his own, thus they were well matched.
"Clearly it's not nothing," Bowyer argued, seeing to his blade before sheathing it. Still, Jin Li was unwilling to admit to the problem. His black Phoenix eyes seemed to darken and become as icy as the frozen wastelands of the north in winter.
Within the stands, Sun and Pike could clearly hear their conversation, now their blades ceased meeting one another in battle. And on hearing Bowyer's words, the older man turned to the youth beside him and queried; "Why is Jin Li in such a sour mood?"
"Ah," Sun said, not bothering to censure his words; he'd had to waste points on a cultivation bath, when he could have had a perfectly good one at Leon's place yesterday, had it not been for Jin Li. "He and Leon had an argument."
"Really? What about?" Pike asked as Bowyer walked over. Jin Li followed, his usual arrogant posture masking only a little of the cold, dark aura spilling out of him. Sun looked wary as Jin Li glared his way, but as it happened, he had no idea what the pair had argued about and could only shrug. "I can't imagine it, Leon in an argument."
"There was no argument," Jin Li denied. "My al... he rejected this Lord's good intentions. Seeing as this is what he has chosen, this Lord refuses to bother with him anymore!"
The two men glanced at each other and quickly read between the lines. They had spent a fair bit of time with both Leon and Jin Li over the past lunar months and had witnessed the possessive streak in the youth before them and his usually hidden tender side, both were brought out by the small alchemist. And how could they have not noticed how Leon would let Jin Li's harsh words and selfish actions brush over him like petals floating on the wind, yet the boy would worry about the martial artist, even after expressing his confidence in him. Clearly whatever was between them was not simple friendship. But one was a naive, shy boy and the other a difficult, somewhat oblivious youth, not an easy pair to overcome hurdles and speak of feelings.
Both men sighed and Pike patted Jin Li's shoulder unsure whether to offer advice or not. After all, they were single men as well.
"Hey! Hey, Jin Li!" Turning around, the group saw a first year running towards them, across the arena. The slightly rotund youth was flushed of cheek, but not perspiring and he wasn't out of breath. He paused for a moment and the colour in his face began to deepen as he said; "There's this girl looking for you."
"Not interested," Jin Li said instantly, while Sun sighed. This was not the first time a female had expressed her interest in his roommate and Sun had to avoid the more persistent ones as they chased him in order to get to their target! Lottie was half a foot taller than him and twice his stature, it was frightening to be hunted by that one!
"She said she had a gift for you," the first year continued as if Jin Li had not spoken, his eyes clearly a little dazed. "Some pills."
Just as he spoke these words, said girl stepped out of the shadows into the arena, her shoulders squared back and her demeanour both confident and self assured, though her eyes fell downcast after meeting with Jin Li's. She wore silk robes of pale jade with emerald and purple peonies embroidered upon them.
The first year blushed more brightly as he stared at her for a moment before babbling on; "She said that she's part of the alchemist's inner school now, so her pills should be much more to your liking than before."
The youth sneered slightly and turned glance at Sun. "That girl, do I know of her?"
"Ah, she's the girl Merylin!" Sun recalled, the girl had left an impression on him, but it wasn't a favourable one. "She's offered you her pills before. Apparently they were quite good. But you turned her down then as well."
"I did? When was that?"
"Back when Leon lost his glasses and you were helping him."
"That small alchemist offered no gratitude then either. Bah! This Lord is right to wash ones hands of him."
The first year opened his mouth to remind them of the waiting girl, but shut it again in the wake of Jin Li's increasingly dark appearance. Pike and Bowyer glanced at each other once more and sighed inwardly. Definitely oblivious.
"Excuse me," Merylin said, softly, no longer wishing to stand there like an extraneous flower, "I hope I am not intruding on anything important..."
"Of course not," Pike allowed, amicably. "Just a little sparring between friends." Although this young woman was not here for him, she was still an apprentice alchemist studying within the inner school. It never hurt to make connections. However as she blushed demurely and glanced through her long, black lashes towards Jin Li, despite his back facing her, it was clear she was not interested in his pleasantries. It was as if his words came from Jin Li's mouth! Inwardly he sighed. It was clear that this girl only had eyes for one. Poor Leon, he thought ruefully.
"Oh, then please, continue, I don't wish to interrupt." There was a sparkle in though gem like eyes that could not be hidden by shuttered lashes.
"We're done here," Jin Li announced. Deep down he admitted just one thing to himself; he could not keep his thoughts upon the battle. That was a dangerous thing. Even though they were not out for each other's blood, even bloodshed could occur in a simple sparring if ones concentration faltered. He blamed Leon. Who told him to have such large, expressive eyes in to which his reflection could drown should he allow it?
"I see," said the girl also with expressive eyes that were now set downcast. They seemed to have a million facets to them, though which revealed the truth, not all of those watching her could say. These men were somewhat experienced with the whims and wiles of certain women, they were not foolish boys. Watching her made them somewhat uncomfortable, despite her very lovely face. "What a pity," she continued, not realising her act had been seen through, though she would likely not care as those men were not the ones she sought to impress. "A rare opportunity for me to witness your skills and I missed it! I'm sure it was a glorious battle! I was fortunate enough to observe your fight against the barbarian during the Standings."
Her flattering words might have swayed others, but the one she liked was not really listening. His thoughts had slipped into memory as he began recalling the battle of which she spoke of. He remembered that Leon had come rushing towards him after the battle ended to see if he was hurt or injured in anyway. Jin Li's mood further blackened for a moment. As if he could have been hurt in such a meaningless fight! Still, he had been a little touched at that moment...
His stomach growled and he announced his intention to go and eat. His three companions glanced at each other, inwardly amused. Jin Li really wasn't giving the girl any face! "Would you mind terribly if I accompanied you?" Merylin blushed, this time her cheeks not reddening due to her own will. Who knew a man's stomach could make such terrible sounds! Like the roaring of a dominant beast warding others from his territory! "I haven't been able to share my gift with you."
Jin Li finally turned to stare at this woman hounding him. She didn't seem to want anything from him, unlike the others who had wished him to give them pointers to hone their techniques or his company when hunting wild animals in the mountains. Leon never asked much of him either and right now he wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not! It wouldn't have hurt Leon to rely on him a little more... "Do as you wish," he replied and headed towards the arena's exit.
The girl smiled triumphantly and began to hurry after him. The first year watched all of this with much mixed feeling, was Jin Li really not interested in this lovely, talented and clearly noble young woman? He was lifted from his daze by a heavy hand upon his shoulder. "We know how you feel," Bowyer advised him, though he was clearly very aware exactly why Jin Li had no interest in the girl, or any girl for that matter, even if Jin Li was not aware of it himself.
"It's a good thing Jin Li is not interested," Sun mused aloud as he and the seniors followed Jin Li's path.
Bowyer and Pike glanced at each other. Was Sun aware of Jin Li's ambiguous feelings toward's the small alchemist? "Oh, why do you say that?" Bowyer asked him.
"That girl is no good," he said, slightly indignant. "She clearly has eyes for marriage and sees Jin Li as her groom."
Pike laughed and placed his arm about Sun's shoulders. Was this a case of eyes wide open, eyes closed shut? "Marriage is not a bad thing, little brother," he joked with the boy, who shuddered at the thought of being tied down to a demanding woman. Better a sweet, gently soul who looked at him as if he were her hero rather than one who looked at him as if he was the finest delicacy upon a dinner plate.
"Don't worry," Bowyer said with a wicked grin. "She has too much of one thing and not enough of another. Jin Li would never be interested in her." Pike reached around and smacked him about the head.
"You crass bastard," he cursed him, but smirked as he had been thinking much the same.
Sun looked up at the two men, roughly bickering with very innocent eyes. "What does is that supposed to mean?" Bowyer and Pike remained wisely quiet, choosing not to taint their little brother with the truth this day.
Author’s note; really, really sorry. I worked this morning and completely forgot to post this!
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