They travelled with only a couple of short breaks, in order to let the horses and the Coeurl following behind, eat and drink before carrying onward at a sedate pace and being that the road was a main thoroughfare for many farming villages and established towns, it was peaceful for the most part. This was not because there were no bandits in these regions, more that in these rolling plains without much tree coverage and with guard towers placed at forks and divisions, a bandit might as well be a beggar for all the wealth that could be taken from carriages and wagons on this route.
Despite this, when they stopped for the night, they did so fairly close to one of these guard towers, but not so near as to give the guards concern regarding their identities and still the two drivers and Sun's manservant set up rolling duties to be on guard. All were highly trained in the arts of martial combat, something required by the General of his servants. In the meantime, the four youths slept more or less comfortably within the carriage.
It possibly would come as no surprise that the Dao couple claimed the bed to rest upon, or rather Jin Li pushed Leon upon it to rest and dared Sun to complain. Of course this Young Master was not courageous enough to! The bed was spacious enough for two and who else would share one mattress anyway? Sun slept on the cushioned sofa instead. This left poor Russ the choice of the carpeted floor or the hard wooden servant bench. He chose the latter, it was still fairly good and the Young Master had thrown him a blanket, so he couldn't complain about being cold. Plus, two scaled felines stretched out on the carpet anyway and those beasts made him nervous. All in all, it was better than sleeping outside on the cold ground or huddled with strangers in the open bed of a wagon.
By lunch the following day, they reached a small town known as Cedar Town, due to the cedar wood trees that lined its streets. The houses scattered over the area were a mix of small stone cottages and old courtyard buildings, both were built in terrace lines with cobblestone roads connecting entrances and gates. Shops clustered together either side of the widest streets, which had a smattering of stalls down the centre. Naturally, large carriages could not breach the crowds of people gathering here, one would have to take a small, two wheeled cart drawn by horse or person if one did not wish to use their own legs.
Sun and the others got out here, planning on grabbing something to eat for the midday meal before moving on towards the village. In the meantime, Sun's drivers took a backstreet in order to avoid the crowded area as advised by a local guard.
Seeing the silk dress of a Young Master, the waiter eagerly guided them to a room with a balcony and made a suggestion regarding food and wine before rushing off with Jin Li's suggestion that it all sounded good (aka "That will do.") As they waited, Leon's eyes were drawn to the bustling streets below and an unfamiliar memory flashed before his eyes...
Those stalls were replaced by tables and proud looking men and women all of whom appeared no older than their mid-twenties and who were sitting or standing at those tables. Youths in various states of clothing, mostly of hemp for there was only a handful of families who could afford silk in town, lined up at the tables. The boys, for he did not recall any girls in amongst them, just a handful of mothering women, would step forward one by one and were tested for age and aptitude. He himself eventually reached the front of the queue and placed his hand upon the thick plate.
"Age sixteen, primary cultivation, body root..." the adult glanced up looking at him with some pity and resignation. "Look kid, I'm saying this for your own good, but are you sure you wish to study at the Ascending Mountain Institute? With your aptitude, it really will not be easy."
"Want t-t-to," he replied as firmly as he could. Everyone knew that people that studied at school could have a better life in the future, but it was costly to go to ordinary school, most commoners could not afford it. So once his grandfather had heard that the school for Cultivators, the Ascending Mountain Institute was recruiting in their area this year, he sent his close grandson to try his luck. Neither of them knew whether he'd have a chance to be a Cultivator in the future, not knowing if Leo had the fortune, they could only hope. And though it seemed his luck wasn't great, it wasn't awful either and he did not pass up the opportunity to study for his future...
Leon's mind came back to the present. The memories felt odd to him, for while he knew that they belonged to him, they still somehow felt as if they had occurred to someone else. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he had believed that he and Leo were two separate entities for so long before learning otherwise, he was still not quite as resigned to the fact that they were one as he had originally thought.
A steamed, white bun was placed in the bowl before him, its scent distracting him from his thoughts and he glanced up at the man who had placed it there. "Eat," Jin Li commanded, before he began to devour the various plates of food without reserve.
"En," he agreed.
Sun was quick to fill his own bowl before slowing down to at least show he had some manners, but seeing the country bumpkin beside him shocked silly by the volumes disappearing into one stomach he instructed; "If you don't grab something now, there really won't be anything left." This jolted Russ from his frozen state and he quickly followed Sun's example, though he shared Leon's awkwardness when it came to using chopsticks.
Quickly the plates were cleared and the four had satisfied stomachs at last.
*****
The name of the Village was Herb and the men and women that lived there raised pigs and chickens, grew vegetables in their gardens and potatoes and common herbs in their fields. There was also an abundant woodland close to the village's eastern outskirts and this was where many wild herbs grew, therefore the villagers were easily able to supplement their small incomes after harvest and before winter came. But that did not make it any easy life.
For example, Russ' family was large, consisting of his grandmother, his own folks, uncle and aunt-in-laws, plus numerous sisters and cousins. However, there were far more women than men and his grandmother had spoiled her sons to the point that they were lazy and only did the minimum of work necessary. His father also liked to drink, so whatever money he did not give to his old mother, he kept for himself and his habit, forgetting that he had a wife, son and three daughters to feed.
Therefore it could be said that his wife and children lived on his mother's charity, but in actual fact, for sometime, they had lived by earning their own pennies, selling embroideries, selling wild herbs and the earnings Russ had obtained by taking odd jobs. Actually, it was not that his old grandmother gave them nothing, more that she only gave allowances based on the number of grandsons born and Russ' mother had just one son and many daughters. Russ really wanted for his mother to divorce his wastrel father and separate from the rest of the family, but this was against the rules of filial piety and respect, so he could only hope to improve his immediate family's lot in other ways.
The carriage caused quite the alarm as it entered the village, the old village chief dragged himself from his dinner to meet the wealthy dignitaries, but their carriage did not stop before his house. He watched as crowds of curious onlookers followed the carriage as it finally came to a stop outside old man Leonard's house. His wife then helped him put on his coat and boots that he might see what was going on.
A driver leapt down and pulled back the thick curtain and a man with a straight posture and plain, but well tailored clothing stepped out, before turning back to focus on the exiting occupants. The first was a boy with long, brown hair tied neatly in a white silver crown, a thick furred coat about his shoulders and a curious, but sunny expression upon his face.
"This is your home, right?" He called into the carriage.
"En," came the reply and another boy with Yin yang hair stepped out, all in white and also wearing a silver crown to tame his wealth of hair. He adjusted his glasses upon his nose as he looked about.
"Eh?" The village chief suddenly blurted out. "In't tha' our village's Leo?"
Leon felt his nerves were shaken; not only was he about to come face to face to his old grandfather, for whom this body of his felt warmth and affection, even if his memories of him were hazy and distant, but the whole village seemed to have poured from their houses to bear witness to his arrival. As his black eyes cast over them, each caused an awakening of a memory, some good, some bad and some he could not make sense of for each focused on different times, places... he rubbed his temples as the assault became a flood and caused a painful headache to form.
A familiar touch lightly grasped his wrist, his body relaxed automatically and he felt the memories were washed away with the image of one man covering them all. To that man, to Jin Li, he nodded and gave a reassuring smile, before turning back to the small village house before him.
To call it a courtyard would be to exaggerate somewhat. It looked like it may have been originally, but the wall surrounding it had crumbled in places, patched in some, while others were ignored. Hardy weeds grew in the flowerbeds and brown grass where some sort of dirt path should have been. The roof on the rear part of the property seemed more or less in tact, although the thatch had seen better days, while that of the side building was full of holes and open to the elements. It was clear that it had been ignored for want of more urgent repairs. Fortunately, the walls of the main property seemed sound and the door solid. Leon quickly bowed to the crowds to acknowledge them, before hurrying to knock on this door as well as calling out; "Grandfather, it's m-m-me..."
The crowds whispered amongst themselves in speculation and gossip.
"'Ere, didn' he go off to some fancy school in them north mountains?"
"Mrs Arion said he'd likely drop out! Probably come home in shame!"
"Tha' didnae explain the posh carriage an' young masters..."
"Ye reckon Leo sold hisself to bein' a servant?"
"Well his dress is a bit posh..."
A more enterprising auntie spotted Russ also getting out of the carriage and beckoned him over. "Wha' is it, auntie?" He asked politely. He was well aware that the old biddy was after gossip, his family was often at the centre of it, he felt a little torn that the central subject was now his best friend instead.
"Tha' some mighty nobby fellows, how is it tha' you and young Leo got to be riding in his carriage?"
He rolled his eyes inwardly, but decided the truth wasn't anything bad. Anyway, the whole village would know some enough. "They be Leo's friends from his school. We met in Cenapar city, as you know, Aunty, I was there seeking work. The carriage belongs to one of them and it were their idea to come back with Leo for a bit, to see his old granda'."
"Such a filial child," the old Aunty murmured.
"Tha's what you think!" Muttered a neighbour, but before anyone could question what she was on about, old Leonard opened his front door.
Tears instantly blurred Leon's vision as a comforting familiarity swept over him at the sight of the wrinkled face. The old man really could only be in his sixties, not old by terms of his previous life, but clearly the years had worn down this white haired old man. His brows were still as bushy as the memory that had appeared in Leon's mind and the glasses beneath them were just as thick as the ones he'd originally used back in the summer, before the accident had seen them beyond repair.
"Leo? Is that really you?" The old man should have been equal to Leon in height, but his spine was curved and shoulders stooped as he leaned on a roughly carved wooden cane, so he had to look up to see his grandson clearly. The lines of this grandson's face had not changed much, still as familiar to him as his own and a relief swept through his old frame. He lifted his cane and bopped Leon upon the head. "You unfilial grandson!" He began yelling. "After no hearing from ye for half a year ye dare jus' show up like this?"
Leon rubbed the aching spot and lightly laughed, sheepishly. "Sorry g-g-grandfather. I d-d-didn't m-mean t-to worry you."
"Tch, alrigh' well I guess ye be here now," the old man said in a gruff tone. "Get inside. It's cold out and ye never did well in the cold."
"Yes, g-grandfather," Leon smiled, he turned to gesture to Jin Li and Sun, while Russ waved from a distance and mouthed that he was headed home and would come back tomorrow.
The old man frowned, noticing the two young masters and their servants as well as the crowds of villages hovering around. "Ye all go' nothing better to do than gawk?" He demanded of his neighbours, whom all tutted and verbally complained beneath their breaths before heading home. Old Leonard rolled his eyes openly, but he was a little more respectful to the village chief, basically nodding his head and greeting him by name before ignoring everyone and entering the dubious warmth of his home.
The inside of the property was in a better condition than the outside at least and was divided into two rooms, one the hearth and home with a stone stove on which large metal pots were placed and a brick, heated bed topped with thin blankets. This room also contained a wooden desk with paper and bindings strewn across it and a rocking chair, in which the old man now sat within. The only light came from a couple of candles placed upon the stove, the fire beneath the brick bed having not yet been lit. It made the room quite cold.
Leon automatically moved to place coals beneath the bed as if he was used to this sort of thing. "G-Grandfather sh-shouldn't let this p-place g-get so c-cold," he chided the old man, the words spilling off his tongue naturally, as if his amnesia had never existed. "D-didn't you say your b-bones ache in the c-cold?"
"Eh," the old man grunted, unkindly, but Jin Li recognised the warmth in the old man's expression, despite the familiar thick lenses obscuring his eyes. "So ye have some explainin' t' do me boy. Who are these people for a start?" He also eyed the two Coeurl, one large, one small following the crowd, warily. The bigger, black beast fortunately sat obediently just beside the door and pressed one paw down upon the tail of the smaller creature, stopping it from running wild, allowing the old man a little relief.
"These are my friends, J-Jin Li and Sun..." Leon indicated them in turn and they respectfully bowed to the elder, who dismissed their gesture with a disgruntled wave of his hand. "They study m-m-Martial arts in school. And this is Wu Ye and Li Ming..." Leon felt his knees give way, his body more able in front of the old man than his memories and knelt before him. "S-s-Sorry, g-grandfather, for worrying you. Something h-happened."
"I'm assumin' you are still in school," the old man muttered, "seein' as you be introducin' these folk as friends no masters."
"En," Leon nodded in agreement and proceeded to explain as best he could about the deviation, how his hair had turned partially white and his memory became a blank. He did not mention that he had awoken the memories of his past life and he was vague about the extent of his injuries, just mentioning that the party responsible was no longer attending the school. Li Ming scrambled to get to its master and nuzzle his shoulders comfortingly.
His old grandfather glanced sideways at the beast before returning his attention back to his grandson and sighed. "Tha' had been me one worry. Ye is too soft, me boy." He glanced up at his grandson's friends. They definitely had the air of young masters, but whether it was a good thing that his Leo had mixed in with them remained to be seen. He worried that Leo had as poor a judgement of people as his youngest daughter, Aleora had that time. "Thankin' ye both for takin' care of me grandson. Ye will have to forgive me, though, this humble home no' go' enough food for this old man to eat, besides tha' it's no' what ye young masters are probably use to. I can no offer ye somethin' t' eat."
"That's okay, Grandfather," Leon reassured him with a pat on his weathered hand. "I p-p-purchased rice and things in the c-c-city. I'll start the f-fire and c-c-cook now, okay?"
"Wait... you can cook?" The old man said startled, even more surprised to see Leon's confident nod, before he moved to the stove.
"This Lord wants meat," Jin Li demanded, approaching his lover, while surreptitiously poking him in the waist a few times. Just wait, he thought. Twice now he'd been labelled as a mere friend. This would be added to a mental list of things that required repayment.
"I'll just tell my servants to head back to town," Sun added gleefully. "I want to eat Leon's cooking!" Li Ming yowled in enthusiastic agreement, however it was thwarted from pestering the masters by its big brother, who nudged it out of the door Sun left open.
Old man Leonard frowned, seeing his small home bustling with youthful exuberance, seeing his grandson happily cooking even as his tall friend hovered close and the excitable one bounce about asking questions of him about the village and its people and Leonard couldn't stop himself from smiling. It had been a long while since it had felt as if these four walls contained life. He leaned back in his rocking chair, feeling the heat of the two fires fill the room and his body sighed in contentment. Now if he could just find his pipe, everything would be perfect.
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