When people are away from that which makes them unhappy, it is easy to form an illusion of self, of perhaps an untainted nature, when one is feeling shameful, or of an aloof existence, when one is usually quaking in one's boots. For a petite youth like Sun, it is easy to form a persona of sunny, energetic youth, when reality had once drained his spirit listless. His sister's friend's little shu sibling wanting to make him be her husband so she could enjoy this not entirely favoured son's family's status was actually the last straw that sent him fleeing to the Ascending Mountain Institute.
Sun's family pursued Martial Arts, but not every Martial Artist in the family had been fortunate enough to be born with roots in which to cultivate and gain strength. So when the second son of the second son of General Ramas happened to naturally awaken his root, there was some celebration, but also there was envy. This envy turned to scorn as time passed and this 'natural' protege failed to break through the boundary of Secondary cultivation. Not only his cultivation, but his height and stature were inherited from his mother, considerably lacking compared to other men in the family. So what that he had awoken his root without pills, not only was his a mere minor root, he clearly was a failure, a short, insignificant failure.
His grandfather became increasingly displeased with this grandchild, who looked feeble in comparison to even his third son's small shu son, who had just had his root forced to awaken and it was a major root. Many of the resources that once were Sun's were redirected to the illegitimate child. And then the Iondis family matchmaker came to call...
Sun shook away his despondent thoughts. He was not the same now, he'd broken through that barrier, reached Secondary stage. They could no longer claim he was a waste, without anymore use than to form a connection with another family for money.
The carriage pulled up outside a gargantuan estate.
Leon glanced outside, his jaw dropping as his eyes fell upon the imposing stone walls, in which a few tree tops could just be seen peering above the heights. Two stone columns rose either side of a large wooden gate, each topped with a stone dragon with fierce expressions. Guards stood at the gate, broad of chest and dressed in leathers and wearing swords. A plaque upon the column stated that this was the Ramas estate.
"This is your h-house?" Leon whispered in disbelief, while Jin Li shook his head with indulgent eyes over his small alchemists naivety.
Sun sighed, head sagging to his chest as he mumbled. "No, this is my family's palace. My courtyard is just a small part of it."
As the three and two beasts left the carriage, one of the guards eyes widened in recognition and he nodded to the other and slipped inside the gates for a moment. Not even had the other guard completed his greeting than did a tall man, with similar colouring to Sun and more mature of appearance, stepped outside to welcome him.
"Little brother," Mond greeted him. His expression was quite stoic, but his eyes were curved with genuine happiness. Sun was startled, he's thought that Mond didn't care for him very much.
Mond was truly Sun's first idol and hero and his heart still recalled the warmth of affection from before his big brother went to train with the army. Mond did not have a inner root, but this never detracted from the strength he exuded, nor his talent with standard Martial Arts. It was just that, when Sun continuously failed to breakthrough, Mond's eyes held the most obvious of disappointment, breaking his heart and damaging the bond between them. Perhaps it had been his own perception that was wrong all along? "Big brother, I'm back," Sun smiled more brightly than before.
Mond nodded in recognition, before his eyes settled upon Jin Li and Leon behind him. He also showed some appreciation for the two eye-catching Coeurl beasts accompanying them. "These are the friends you mentioned?" Mond queried.
"En," Sun replied and indicated one after the other. "This is Jin Li, my room mate and fellow Martial Artist and this is Leon, his alchemist. The two Coeurl's belong to them."
Mond gave both a nod in greeting, before indicating that they should continue on inside. "Grandfather has been waiting for you, little brother." Sun almost crumbled at the thought, but took his best step forward into the walls that suddenly felt more like a prison.
Walking through those guarded, tall walls was not too dissimilar to stepping into a transmigrator slipping through the cracks in one world and into another without the need of death's flesh-less hand guiding them. Leaving behind them the wide, yellow paved street, the world around them became almost ethereal, in a man-made sort of way. Four steps in and they came to see something Cenapar was famous for; a bridge.
The bridge was made of painted wood and solid of construction with just a hint of embellishment as dragons wound their way up the first and last posts of the structural feature. The bridge itself arched over a large lotus pond which was fed by a small stream that trailed off into the distance. Visitors would not know this, but it was a fact that this water came from one of the great rivers and the pond was not artificial in its creation. Although the path beneath their feet lead off to the left and right, the two brothers guided them towards the bridge, only pausing to glance at the two Coeurl before looking towards a passing servant.
"Take the beasts to the stable and ensure their comfort completely," Mond instructed the man, who nervously looked at the two beasts. Wu Ye yawned, revealing all of his sharp teeth telling one side that he could indeed do with a nap, while warning the other that he was no kitten. Li Ming was less inclined to be stabled.
Leon reached out for the Coeurl with one hand and picked out a solid wood carving of a dream hare, with long upright ears from his pouch with the other, before waving it before the beast. "B-be g-good," Leon smiled and the Coeurl yowled softly then snatched away the gift proudly. He followed Wu Ye quietly after this. The latter rolled his eyes before staring at the servant who had no choice but to try still his trembling body as he lead the way.
After this, the brothers lead them over the bridge of the lotus pond, which was decorated in bare willow trees and sweeping shrubs. Small rockeries created fake mountains either side of the bridges end as it curved a hidden corner and returned to the path on the other side. In late spring and summer, the garden would have been even more impressive, with large, rare flowers and colourful blossoms to highlight the greenery. At the moment, it just seemed cold.
Beyond the rockeries, the path opened up and split into two, both which lead through large moongates in white walls. The brothers took one at lead deeper into the grounds, the other would have lead to a Hall and courtyard meant for waiting guests, but Sun was too nervous to voice this in passing. Beyond this moon gate was yet another garden, this one filled with sizeable canals that were straight and long. These canals also were staggered, the bottom most length horizontal and across their path, whereas the next length was coming towards them before tipping its contents into the lower canal. And there was a third staged higher up, built upon a wall and tipping its waters into the second canal.
The lowest canal had a bridge in which the brothers wandered over before the path lead them to travel along the length of the canal. There was even a pleasure boat floating in its waters, though Sun was relieved to know there was no one aboard right now. This pathway lasted quite the while before they came to a cross section of paths and finally walked away from the canals and towards another wall and moongate. This one lead into a large and structured courtyard with a very imposing building wrapped about most of it. The courtyard itself was mostly unadorned, with the exception of another pair of dragon statues in the middle.
The brothers approached the rear section of the building, which had a length of fixed wooden awning, stretching from wing to wing, providing a little shelter from the elements without needing to enter the building itself. Posts held up the covering adding to the structural feel it emanated. A manservant stood outside of the door and greeted both brothers, before requesting their patience as he went inside to announce their presence. It wasn't long before the two brothers went in, however, Jin Li and Leon were forced to wait outside.
Leon glanced nervously over at Jin Li, but to his surprise, the Martial Artist was not angered by the fact they were abandoned and left outside. Actually, that was only for a moment as the manservant quickly returned and guided them to a side room and even sent for tea. The room was ornate, with varnished sidetables of which the stand was carved into long curving leaf shapes, the table nestled upon them and matching sofas with every inch of the cushioned seating embroidered with fine silks. Paintings and calligraphy adorned the walls, metal scrollwork braziers stood in one corner and fine rugs of beautiful fur lie at their feet.
Jin Li took all of this in his stride and lounged upon the sofa as if it were no matter, whereas Leon sat more gingerly, worried to dirty the sofa; they had travelled along way and had yet to freshen up. "Sit still," Jin Li ordered, before tugging him closer to his side. "All of this is for show."
"What d-do you m-mean?" Leon murmured softly, unsure even on whether he should raise his voice. Jin Li brushed away at a loose strand of Leon's hair, which so annoyed him in the end, he stood up and tugged the snow jade pin in his hair loose.
As the familiar sensation of long, slender fingers began tugging his hair to untangle and neaten it, Leon couldn't help but relax and even lean closer against Jin Li's legs. "If we were unwelcome or just mere acquaintances of Sun, we would not have even walked this far, but rather been shown to a reception room closer to the main gates," Jin Li explained as he wrapped the silver metal crown about Leon's hair and once satisfied replaced the pin. Jin Li had him turn and lifted his chin in order to better exam his work. Pleased, Jin Li nodded and sat back down upon the sofa. "Instead, we have been welcomed to a room likely attached to the patriarchal hall, where resides the head of the house. That indicates trust, however, it does not mean that they will not continue testing us. Showing off wealth and power, seeing how we react to all of this and to waiting an inordinate amount of time."
"Oh," Leon didn't really understand it, but if Jin Li said that it was alright, then surely it must be.
Actually, thinking of his own family, Jin Li's parents weren't really known for these tricks, however, his old grandfather had been and so his eldest brother had been taught practically at the man's knees while growing up. But old grandfather had an incident while attempting to break through to denary stage cultivation and incurred Heaven's wrath. He had survived it, but had fallen to the level of an idiot. Out of filial duty, he was taken care of, but his place as head of the family had fallen onto Jin Li's father's shoulders... though not without some bloodshed. Those foolish branch families had thought they could steal the reigns of power? Such laughable dreams.
It took the time in which Jin Li polished off two pots of fine tea before they were granted audience with the Ramas family patriarch.
When strangers meet for the first time, it is natural for there to be an in depth evaluation, whether that be by word or just by sight. Jin Li and Leon came to be guided in front of an elder man, light wrinkles upon his weathered face and white and silver streaking his faded auburn hair. His eyes, though set deeply into his face, that held no excess fat or luxury, were bright and sharp and not tired nor dulled with age. He gave off an aura of a man who it was not wise to trifle with.
To one side of him sat five men each with varying features that seemed to stem from the man. The first had similar eyes, but the sharpness seemed to stem from cruelty rather than shrewdness, the second had similar lines of face and expression, yet it seemed cold. The third and fourth were almost like a parody, both showing varying stages of indulgent behaviour that morphed the older man's features into something entirely else. The last was the least like the old man, just had his colouring, but his mood seemed distant and his mind clearly elsewhere.
Mond and Sun stood behind the second man stating that this man was their father.
Jin Li bowed formally towards the senior man, with Leon following suit. Though they might have private criticism of Leon's awkwardness, none could fault the elegance and respect held in Jin Li's greeting. This made shrewd and interested eyes that much more open and evaluating than before.
Sun stepped forward to offer introductions. "Grandfather, father, uncles," he said giving order of obeisance. "These are my friends from the Institute. Jin Li and Leon."
"Oh? No family names?" The most round of Sun's uncles inquired, revealing his disdain immediately. "Since when do our family's sons make friends with commoners?"
Sun's face altered from its current wane shade to red, but it was a mix of shame and anger that tinted his skin. A hand fell upon Sun's shoulder, father giving pause to his son as his grandfather voiced; "Since when do my family's sons forget their manners in front of guests?"
The old man was once a general and though now retired, he had naturally commanded men of varying backgrounds. He had seen both commoners and nobles fight until there was no breath in their bodies and both tremble in fear as the 'glory' of war became a reality of mud and carnage. So he would not judge as easily as this disappointing son whose swordplay was long forgotten and the only exercise was lifting chopsticks to his mouth. His third son's face soured, but he daren't whisper a breath in front of his old father.
"Sirs, this one's surname is Jin," Jin Li rarely spoke of his family, not as he had no feelings for them, just he felt there was little point declaring it in front of middle-realmers who did not know them, but that did not mean he would have others dare ridicule them. "This one's family are Martial Artists and known well in one's place of birth. Naturally, this one followed the path set for one at birth and can modestly declare oneself a Martial Artist, in training."
"A filial son," General Ramas said, approvingly, his eyes flashing grievance at his own offspring. The second and fifth son had some talents in Martial Arts, but neither could be said to be his heir of title. His second son, even without internal roots, was too inflexible as a commander and his fifth son would follow more the path of a Beast Tamer with his love of equines over weapons and battle. His sixth grandson had awoken roots, but his physique was too lacking. No one could take him seriously as a Martial Artist. His hope now lie on his eighth grandson, who was some seven years junior.
The old man turned his attention to the other before him, a frown marring his forehead. The white stripes upon his jet black hair suggested he suffered deviation in the past, yet Sun would have this one still called a friend? Still, the old general was not quick to make judgement. "And you, young man? Do you study Martial Arts as well?"
"N-no," Leon replied, awkwardly. "I st-st-st... I'm an alchemist."
Five sets of eyes to one side immediately had faded interest. Ah, so this one was actually a servant after all.
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