The snow naturally melted over the course of the following day and after breakfast on the day proceeding, Jin Li, Leon and Sun stepped into a carriage arranged by Mond and began their journey to the west town.
In passing, the day before was spent grooming two idle Coeurl after taking them to exercise at the riding grounds of the army's base, less their muscles and instincts become numb from inactivity. The pair had cruelly chased a stubborn horse that had been ignoring the soldier attempting to coax it. Without the intelligence of an Equine, the horse had become startled, throwing off the soldier before fleeing (he wasn't hurt) unaware that the Coeurl weren't planning on actually hurting it. Of course, if prey runs...
Grooming was another affair. Coeurl's were felines but they were not cats, especially Wu Ye who no longer had fur. After washing in water of a decent temperature, Coeurl scales liked to be oiled less they harden and crack and have to be shed exposing the fragile flesh beneath. In the wild, a Coeurl might use the oils obtained from the fatty parts of its meal to coat itchy parts of its hide with its long tongue, but there were always places difficult to reach. Plus, the scent of raw animal fat was not exactly pleasant.
Li Ming, on the other hand, had areas about its neck to gently brush with a comb, which also did not want to be coated in oils, plus the excitable beast was not easy to settle now it had its human's attention. Leon had spent some time grooming the not so little Coeurl draped across his lap.
That had been yesterday, today was another day. The Coeurl remained in the stable, teasing the servants occasionally, lazing about otherwise, while their humans were travelling and exploring another region of Cenapar.
West town was likely the place most merchants gathered, due to its river linking sea and the fertile southern farms. Thus there were a hodgepodge of courtyard properties and small palaces half circling the area more abundant with shops and stores, restaurants and teahouses. There were also areas with market stalls and opportunist vendors, who would throw blankets on the ground to display their wares rather than rent a basic stall for a month. At least until the guards came along. At that point, if they did not flee with their things and earnings, they would likely have to pay a fine (also known as a bribe) before being let off with a warning.
Of course this town would naturally have a red light district as well, but this was off to one side and not a place Sun had ever visited for all his trips to West town.
Even though the air was still cold and the sky remained a steely grey, the streets were filled with the bustling of people, their raucous calls, bantering and bartering. The clinking of coins was often heard in this market area, the chime of brass coins rather than silver and for the most part, buyer and seller departed content. Numerous aromas also filled the air, but the scent of hot oil and spice rose above them all to become dominant.
As the three were jostled, Leon found his hand captured by Jin Li, but poor Sun had to rely on himself to ensure that the trio remained together. Fortunately, Sun was light of foot or he surely would be separated in this kind of crowd.
Leon's eyes wandered past the various food stalls with the heavy smells not sitting comfortably with his stomach and instead were drawn to others. Such as the stall selling silver trinkets and the stall selling wooden dolls for children. There was also a stall selling embroidery threads and handkerchiefs. This latter he bought two white, silk ones for Jin Li, one embroidered with the a golden koi swimming in blue waters and the other with a brightly coloured persimmon growing on a branch with green leaves. In return, he found stuffed in his own hands a handkerchief embroidered with a magpie in a wutong tree.
Sun rolled his eyes at such dog-food, recalling what his Di-sister once told him about the symbolism of the last one as she embroidered a similar pattern upon a token pouch for her husband; the wutong tree along symbolised longevity, but with a magpie in its branches it could express sharing joy together in this long life.
After this stall, Leon became drawn to one selling herbs, but the quality was only so-so and instead he ended up bartering for the seeds of a few common herbs that he did not already own. This was because, while they were easily cared for once established, growing them from scratch was another matter. So seeds were not distributed to students at the institute, nor would most shops bother to stock them, simply the buying the herbs from farmers in the industry instead. The vendor therefore thought Leon must be a bit dumb and so easy to trick coin from. He did not bargain on the malevolent shadow standing behind the small youth, so while he did not make a loss, he did not managed to take advantage either.
Sun purchased some sweet pastries, which he and Leon enjoyed as they paused for a break, while Jin Li wandered off after discovering a stall selling weapons, unable to resist the lure. He returned with a conceited expression of one who has managed to find a treasure hidden in muck and the glint in his eye suggested that he had further more secured it at a fraction of its actual worth. Indeed, the vendor had been vastly unaware of what he held in amongst the blunt blades and rusted knives to one side that he was pretty much selling as scrap. Only the discerning eye of a martial arts cultivator would ever be able to spy that the tarnished sword coated with a thin layer of red rust held a matrix of spiritual energy in its handle and blade, waiting to be activated.
To this end, Jin Li later purchased vinegar and mineral oil as well as a soft bristle brush. That evening he would soak and brush and tenderly treat this sword with the touch of a lover. The rust removed and the sheen of the blade restored beautifully, he would continue to polish and coax the weapon, marking it with his blood to claim a bond of ownership with his spiritual energy. And eventually, it would be a pouting Leon who grabbed him and dragged him to bed, where Jin Li found that he would have to coax his unhappy lover with a much more attentive touch and finally subdue him in a night of dual cultivation.
As the afternoon wore on and their purchases began to mount, their stomachs overfull as well with treats and fried food, they began heading back to the carriage and awaiting driver, when a voice called out suddenly from the crowd;
"Leo? Leo! Is that really you?!"
I gift you another bonus chapter this week x
The person calling out to him was a young man, mostly likely the same age as Leon, which would be nineteen. His mahogany coloured hair, that was tied at the nape of his neck by a thin cord, was long enough to reach his shoulder blades, not the usual length that most people favoured. His skin was ruddy, peachy tones with the red of someone flustered staining his cheeks. His eyes were narrow and thin, sheltered with deep coloured lashes causing them to seem as if they were smiling, crescent moons. He was not very tall, possibly a couple of inches more of height than Leon and his body robust and dressed in slightly frayed hemp clothing, the coat of which was held together by grass rope.
"I almost didn' recognise ye! Wot happened to ye hair an' wots with ye glasses?" The boy was saying.
Leon felt a wave of familiarity before vague images flashed before his eyes, firstly of a tiny, round faced boy with gaps in his teeth and of a slightly older boy dragging him through a field. However, the details of those memories did not etch deeply onto his mind once a name came unbidden to his lips. "You are R-Russ," Leon blurted out and the other boy grinned brightly.
"Aye!" The boy confirmed. "I see that fancy school ain't fixed ye stutter!"
Leon was startled, but quickly covered his surprise with an "En." He hadn't known for sure just how many of his traits existed before his spiritual deviation, at the same point Leo lost his memories and Leon awakened his. Now it could be confirmed that Leo had always had the speech impediment. Leon wondered now how bad it had been in the past since he so long as he was not nervous or tired, his stutter notably had improved this past half year.
Jin Li's eyes narrowed and he glanced down at his small alchemist. "You know this person?"
"En. This is Russ. I r-r-remember him." Leon had no secrets from Jin Li, so the young man knew just exactly what Leon meant by these words. Leon had regained lost memories of his former self.
"Phew! Ye granda' was all a-worry, thinkin' summin' had happened to ye," Russ began as if no words had passed between Leon and the other. "Why did ye not send word to us fer so long?"
"M-my g-g-grandfather?" Leon whispered, his eyes suddenly filling with watery emotion. He cleared his throat and looked pleadingly to the boy before him. "Is he w-well?"
Russ scratched his head, uncaring that his dark hair was pulled out of its tie by his broken figure nails and said; "He were fine wen I came here lookin' fer work. I go' a job on the river docks las' moon. I go' me first pay check so I'm buyin' stuff fer me mam and me sisters fer new year." The boy looked very proud of himself with his chest puffed outward slightly and Leon felt his lips curve upward in response. "Are ye gonna come back to the village soon, mebbe visit ye granda' fer new year?"
Leon's expression crumbled slightly and his head bowed low as a longing filled his chest. Jin Li still held his hand, though this was hidden from view due to the draping of their long coats, and he squeezed it reassuringly before answering for him; "Naturally, it's ones duty and honour to greet one's ancestors and be with ones elders to usher in a new year. However, Leo met with a mishap and his memories became hazy, no longer could he pinpoint his ancestral home. This is also why he could not send word." Hearing Jin Li say his old name felt awkward, but he was grateful to his lover for speaking up for him.
It took a moment for Russ to understand what exactly the tall man standing with his old friend meant, but when he did, his mouth formed a circle and his narrow eyes widened a tad that the earthy colour of them could be seen. "Ye can' remember where the village is?" Leon shook his head with a sad smile. "I didn' expect tha'! Well, why don' I take ye? It be only two days travel by wagon from here. I'll be goin' back in five days me-self."
"I want to go!" The forgotten Sun suddenly piped up behind them and seeing a youth of noble dress, the village boy couldn't help but bow awkwardly a couple of times. The others amicably turned a blind eye to his panicked greeting of respect towards a person of higher status. "We can take a carriage! My brother will arrange it for us!" Sun was getting on quite well, he felt, with his older brother, although Mond did not say much and his face was still quite stoic, his eyes were welcoming whenever they met either in passing or with intent. This and his grandfather was more approving of him since hearing all about his days in the Institute and learning of his betterment of body and spirit. In addition, due to the cold weather, his cousins were not specifically visiting to make trouble every day, so he was feeling that it was not so bad to return home after all.
The boy's eyes grew wide again not knowing how to respond to the over-enthusiastic noble youth. Seeing him, it had made him take a renewed look over Leo and his other friend. Both were wearing warm coats made of animal fur and skin, which had also been embroidered with ornate designs and looked very different to the stuffed, layered hemp one that he wore in an attempt to keep him warm. All three wore the crown and hairpin's favoured by wealthy young men to restrain their wealth of silken hair upon their heads, Leo's hairpin even seemed to be of snowy white jade! Leo's glasses were also much different and no longer obscured his large, midnight eyes. All in all, if Russ did not know better, he would have thought Leo was a noble or rich boy rather than a commoner like himself hailing from a small village.
But even as he thought this and began to become uncertain, his old friend turned to him and offered the familiar, warm and slightly shy smile he recalled. "Then w-would you g-g-guide us b-back, Russ?" Russ inwardly sighed, this was still Leo, same quiet manner, same little stutter and same pleasing aura. No matter how fancy he was dressed up. He reckoned that the school had just been generous and helped him fit in. It did not occur to him that all what he saw was a combination of his own hard work and gifts from his lover and friends.
"O'course I will!" He grinned, brightly, feeling warm and happy from top to toe. His old friend was back, how could he not be happy! Plus, it would be good if Leo recalled the promise they made when he went away. Then things would be even more perfect.
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