The sun rose above the horizon of the ocean, spreading its light to represent the new day upon the gently drifting waters, the golden sands and the grassy dunes beyond. At some point later, the light reached the mountains, shining upon rock and peeking through abundant trees. A short while later, Leon stumbled out of his small hut, his red tinted eyes sheltering within slightly black circles. In contrast, Jin Li followed seeming fairly refreshed.
There was a hint on concern in the black Phoenix eyes that fell upon his small alchemist, but as usual, he failed to express his feelings well. "How is it that after one restless night, your face has turned so ugly?"
Leon ignored him and just yawned.
The alchemist originally had plans to complete the order for improved blood pills, but being so sleepy, he felt that he would not be able to concentrate on making pills. He had already produced a stock of forty, so decided to take them down in mountain in advance and buy herbs in order to make more. He felt guilty about using school produced herbs to make pills he intended to sell, so had only used the dry seeds from their stock. Everything else came from his garden. However, there was only so much his herb garden could produce after all and it would need a few weeks regrowth once he had harvested everything before he could count on it once more.
Jin Li was aware of his plans and as usual had decided to follow.
The two youths headed towards the stables seeing as no griffins were available to use this morning; they had come to late to join the crowds of students heading down the mountain today, they could only seek other ways. In truth, Jin Li did not need a mount, his feet were swift enough, he could descend more quickly than the base mounts stabled in the alchemist outer school. Leon was the one needing four legs beneath him.
Leon yawned once more as Jin Li spoke to the stable hand on whether there were mounts available to ride into town. Leon's sleepless night was indeed mostly the fault of Jin Li and his unexpected behaviour the night before, but Leon should also accept some blame. His mind dwelled overly on reasons Jin Li had acted so... and over the hours he had come up with several excuses such as Jin Li not wanting to push him too fast, or perhaps because Jin Li had only just accepted his own feelings, he wasn't ready for physical intimacy... Eventually he had fallen asleep due to sheer exhaustion, but it seemed to be only moments long before Jin Li had risen and demanded breakfast.
The stablehand glanced at the shattered Leon and asked; "You be wantin' one mount or two?"
"One, I doubt his ability to ride," Jin Li said with a slight sneer, though actually he had other reasons behind his decision. Seeing Leon yawn again, the stable hand nodded and produced a saddle that would be comfortable for two.
"Students can only use the school owned Baku," the stablehand mentioned and took them towards a rather sturdy mount, before being summoned by another regarding the Equines. Jin Li was capable of saddling a baku, so he thought nothing of doing this task himself.
"Ah, it's Jin Li!" A girlish voice called out and Jin Li tested the last buckle before turning to see a girl in lilac riding clothes with a stablehand carrying a decorative blanket and fine saddle behind her. She cheerfully made her way over to the martial artist, who frowned while trying to figure out just who this girl was. The girl smiled then looked around him. "Where's Leon? I thought that you would be with him!"
Jin Li was inwardly startled and glanced around to see that his small alchemist was not beside him. Wandering off without his permission! How dare he!
A strange neighing sound captured their attention, as if a horse was trapped in the echoing dark of a ravine and calling out to anyone who could here. It was the braying of a mesmyr. There was only one in the stables and the stablehand panicked, thinking that the mesmyr was about to attack an idiot, who approached it. He dropped the girl's saddle and blanket upon the straw covered floor before rushing over towards its stable. Jin Li quickly followed, suspecting he knew who the idiot was and the girl sighed, but followed at a more sedate pace.
"Ah, Teacher Pitre's Mesmyr is quite fond of Leon," the girl mentioned as the beast and boy came into view. "It was probably just excited to see him." Sure enough, the noble creature had half-lidded eyes as it pressed its long nose into Leon's arms. Jin Li frowned. Were Mesmyr's not ridiculously proud accepting only the touch of the rider that tamed them? Then what was he actually seeing?
Jin Li turned to notice the calm, smiling expression upon the girl's face and finally recalled who this girl was. She was the one who insisted on hanging around his alchemist. His stomach immediately turned sour and he stormed forth to capture his small alchemist in order to remind him just who he belonged to! Unfortunately, the Mesmyr was not to pleased with this idea and after pushing Leon towards its chest, it took on an offensive stance. Its crown rose from its relaxed position upon its neck and presenting forward, each tip sharp and deadly. The surrounding stablehands became panicked.
Leon pattered its neck and whispered soothing words, just as another broke in booming tones across the stables. "Just what is going on here?!"
Every so often, the Ascending Mountain Institute would organise an expedition. Depending on the severity of risk and importance of the mission, the number of Teachers leading the expedition could number from two to five. Each school would usually send two students; one senior and one junior, though occasionally others would be added. For example; if the expedition was seeking to tame or defeat certain beasts, there would be more beast taming students and the Teacher in charge would also be from that school. Or if it was in a particularly dangerous area then more martial artists and mages might participate. Has to be mentioned that the original Leo never once mentioned in his diaries that he had been on one of these expeditions.
On this day, an expedition to seek rare herbs in the Northern Wilds, thus a Teacher from the alchemist school was leading the expedition. That Teacher happened to be Teacher Pitre. And right at this moment, Teacher Pitre was witnessing his stubborn, proud and temperamental mount, who happened to only tolerate his rider, fawn like a puppy against someone else.
"What is this?" The Teacher boomed loudly, but his voice happened to be directed at his mount. The beast glanced over at its rider, giving him a quick stare then looking haughtily away. "Ridiculous, what pride! Are you not afraid this display will make your species lose face?!" The Mesmyr snorted, relaxing its crown thus it no longer was in battle mode, but did not stop eyeballing Jin Li, who had his hand upon his sword in self-defence. Leon pattered the beasts neck and the Mesmyr whinnied like a horse spirit and leaned into his touch.
Teacher Pitre narrowed his eyes at the short boy in blue-dyed robes. He wore his strange, striped hair like a noble, crowned and pinned, but though the cut of his cloth was well done, it was still just of rough hemp. And then there was those cheap glasses made thick due to them being ordinary and the boy of poor eyesight. Had the boy really been rich, he could have afforded enchanted spectacles of thin glass and better taste! From the green stains on the tips of his fingers and the scent of herbs lingering on him, Teacher Pitre deduced him to be of his Alchemist School, but he did not recognise him.
"Just who are you boy?" Teacher Pitre demanded of him. "And what have you done to my Mesmyr?"
"T-t-Teacher, I've d-done n-nothing?" Well, Leon didn't think he had, he just assumed that the Mesmyr was friendly. After all, it was the only one in the stables, how could he compare?
Just then the bark of a canine could be heard and black and white hound came rushing forward and jumped up at Leon's legs, while wagging it's feathery indigo and white tail. The youth was slightly startled, but noting the long, rabbit like ears and the four glistening black eyes he realised this was a cooshee and he knew only one of those. Sure enough, he glanced up to see the blond haired youth jogging towards them.
"Xiao Xiao!" Tor called out to the adolescent beast. "What trouble are you getting me into this time... oh Leo! Long time no see!"
"En," Leon agreed with an amicable smile. Jin Li's eyes narrowed; his small alchemist was smiling at another man, cannot be tolerated! However, how to reclaim him from a difficult beast such as a Mesmyr? Jin Li was not so foolhardy as to think that defeating such a proud beast would be unchallenging, Mesmyrs were also known to fight to the death rather than flee. While they would submit to a person who wished a partnership with them as rider and mount, they would never die without a fight!
As it happened, beneath the strong pressure of the Teacher, Leon was backing away from the Teacher's Mesmyr. Jin Li was poised to grab him the moment he came into reach, alas the Mesmyr was quicker, grasping Leon's sleeve with its teeth.
"Leo...?" Teacher Pitre suddenly looked thoughtful and recollected that a certain apprentice that had been mentioned frequently of later, much due to the fact that his Master/Teacher was considered a fool to take such an average student beneath his wings by others and that student was named Leo. Teacher Pitre was never one to listen to others judgements, preferring his own eyes and ears, but being aware of rumours cannot help but colour a first impression. Still, no matter his skill in alchemy, it was clear that this boy in blue, with wooden charms dangling from his belt, was not so simple otherwise would his Mesmyr be so thoroughly charmed by him? Plus this cooshee seemed fond of him as well.
After taking a good long look, Teacher Pitre dismissed any thoughts about him and turned to his mount. "We are going out for a bit," he told the beast, who finally turned to him, letting go of Leon's sleeve, an almost invisible shiver flexing along its flank. As if it wasn't excited to be leaving the stables, it nodded its head twice then. Teacher Pitre chuckled and patted its nose.
Leon yawned, his minimal energies feeling spent as he shuffled back to Jin Li's side without thought, the cooshee still attempting to curl about his legs as he walked.
"Aw, Tor, your cooshee is growing so fast!" The girl, Maimai said having followed Jin Li after all was settled. She knelt down in an attempt to gain favour with the young beast, but was once more snubbed. She pouted as Tor laughed.
"Xiao Xiao is almost a half season old now," Tor reminded her as he looked fondly at his beast-partner.
"Has it really been so long?" Maimai asked. Tor nodded, offering the girl a kind smile, but his eyes had long since wandered over to where Leon was standing closely to that Martial Artist friend of his. Honestly, Tor did not have a good impression of the tall youth, his nature was naturally arrogant and overbearing and he felt that due to Leon's gentle and kind demeanour, Jin Li was using him for some gain or advantage. Of course, Tor's thoughts leaned towards a Martial Artist's keenness for Pills; who wouldn't want free pills and medicines when they were offered? Didn't know that his thoughts were close to being right, but it was the body Jin Li wanted! Tor also could not help but notice the wooden charm dangling from the Martial Artist's sword.
"Gathering at the stables, assume you are here to ride?" Tor said and then asked; "Where are you all headed?"
"Oh, I just thought to take Piku for some exercise!" Maimai said, casually. "It was a coincidence we met here today. What about you?"
"Joining an expedition," Tor grinned brightly. In truth, he knew he'd be taking care of the mounts used when they set up camp. Well, all except the stubborn Mesmyr. But he was too excited to care.
Jin Li, who had noticed the direction of Tor's sight, wrapped his arm around his small alchemist and abruptly offered; "Well don't let us keep you," before guiding the boy away and leaving Tor wide eyed and jaw slack.
"Oh! Wait for me!" Maimai called to them, bringing her handkerchief to her tingling nose, before rushing after them.
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