At this time, Leon was examining a cabinet of accessories.
In this world, jewellery was as important to people as clothing and this fact conceded to no distinction of status, wealth and ability. The people of his village might wear wooden hairpins and belt charms made of bone, striving for at least one silver bracelet for their wrist or longevity lock for their child, but they still wore them with pride. Merchant children tended to opt for gold and the upper classes sought gems and jade. Some of Sun's cousins' peers appeared as if they were walking displays for jewellery stores, afraid others would not recognise their wealth.
Cultivators did not wear jewellery to such extremes, but it did not mean that they were any less accustomed to wearing accessories as part of their daily ensemble. It was just that they grew to become more choosy. One could see examples of this about school. First year commoners would begin the year wearing their old wooden pieces and end it (hopefully) with trinkets of iron or silver, while first year merchants and ordinary nobles would often cover themselves in pieces, only to tone this vastly by the end of the year. Explosive cauldrons and backlash from spells didn't know the difference between the haves and the have nots, necklace chains or large hairpieces with dangling gems could just become a hindrance in battle and lets not mention the beast poo staining silk, embroidered shoes...
Slowly, the silver, gold and gemstones would be replaced with jade and crystals as these student cultivators came to realise the value of these pieces, although it might take them a whole year to scrape together the points for a reasonable one. Then realising their value, there would be no shortage of students taking either jewellery crafting or artefact inscription as a second study, but there would be few who were suited to it. The pieces in the cabinet could only be the pieces of these apprentices and even then, they might only just receive a passing mark from their Teachers. That's not to say they had no attractive value or use, just that overall the quality was quite low.
Jade naturally held spiritual energy, which could be tempered into specific circuits within the finished piece in order that the wearer would consistently receive benefits. Crystals could be filled with spiritual energy and like modern batteries, hold a charge for a specific period before needing to be recharged. Placed upon metal forming or holding an etched circuit/inscription, it would provide similar benefits to the jade, only the strength of which tended to be greater at the beginning and weaken with time. However both crystals and jade were expensive as the wants for which were high, in this cabinet, only a belt accessory held tiny beads of jade and it was difficult to judge just how great an inscription that could be tempered within such little vessels. The other jewellery contained shards of crystals, but they would need a mage's touch to be useful and would likely then only be useful for a short period of time before needing more spiritual energy enthused.
This was part of the reason that Teacher Volun had been so enthusiastic about Leon's wooden charms. Wood could be cheap or expensive, bone was also quite common, though more difficult to shape. These were all once from living things and their natural spiritual energy would have dissipated after leaving the original source (or upon that source's death). However, as Leon carved these materials, he not only enthused a tiny portion of his spiritual energy and shaped it unknowingly, he also managed to trap it inside so it wouldn't be expelled in the short term. As for long term, Teacher Volun was carefully watching the carved fox amulet on his belt to see how it lasted.
Leon looked at the jewellery and wasn't tempted. His thrifty nature would have him seek jade amulets over crystal encrusted ones, but also, his memories of men's jewellery also effected his ideals. These things before him with attempts of carved dragons and phoenixes (some with rather unfortunate results) just didn't appeal. He was more curious about the thing known as inscription. From the patterns etched upon the circular metal amulet he was examining, they were far more complicated than his runes, he wondered how that affected the things abilities.
Jin Li came over to him, sporting a sour face and also glanced over the accessories. His was a noble, cultivating family so he looked at these things with disdain in his heart. "You wish to purchase one of these... things?" He inquired.
Leon shook his head. "N-n-no need," he replied. A small part of him did wish to wear accessories, that was a part of his upbringing in this world after all, but there was still the part of his previous life's influence in which less was sometimes better. That and many men wore no jewellery at all in that world. However, his whole consciousness agreed that if he found the right piece, he would wear it... or if it was gifted from a certain man... His hand subconsciously rose to touch lightly the jade hairpin within the crown holding his long yin yang hair.
"H-how about you?" He inquired of said man.
"Tch... nothing much," Jin Li denied, his eyes wandering to that belt. Really, this thing was not that great, it would have been lost amongst the things within his wardrobe in the house of his birth.
"Should we g-g-go up higher?" Leon wondered, glancing up at the ceiling as if he could peer through the opaque barrier.
"No," Jin Li quickly refused. He couldn't afford the points. His face soured further.
"P-pity, it's you b-b-birthday soon," Leon murmured with a sigh, "I wanted t-to g-get you a g-gift." That was right. In terms of the higher realms calendar, Jin Li would be turning eighteen as the season turned from winter to spring in this realm. Jin Li's frame stiffened and his ears tinted with red. "We c-c-could look around t-town instead..."
"No need," Jin Li's usually harsh tone seemed to soften to a tad. "Your thought is sufficient."
"B-but..."
"Of course, if you insist on a token of physical representation, I will accept it," Jin Li interrupted Leon's words quickly and went to grab that belt once more, before tossing it over in a uncaring manner. "Please." This word was so quietly spoken, Leon almost didn't hear it and couldn't help but smile.
"Okay," Leon agreed, holding the sturdy belt to his chest. He reached to grasp Jin Li's hand affectionately, blushing as their fingers entwined, but satisfied in his heart. Still, he'd lost interest in shopping and made to leave the pavilion with Jin Li. There was no need to personally make a payment, for the points would be deducted as if left via the exit by the same mysterious barrier that deducted points on their entrance. It was not needed to be said that this barrier would stop theft as well, thickening and preventing any who could not afford their items from exiting, hence why Leon had to take the belt not Jin Li who held the pill in his other hand.
Before they left, however, something else caught Leon's eye and he was intrigued enough to purchase that thing as well.
Author’s note; I am so sorry about the recent delays in posting. My recent days have been busier and I admit to indulging in reading other novels and playing games in my free time. I can’t say this will be fixed before January, though. At that point, I should have more time to focus on writing and hopefully regain some inspiration too.
Likely it was planned so, the end of the Interschool Exchange competitions coincided with the official start of the spring season and though there was the odd frost in the higher regions of the mountains, the snows had mostly melted, filling the rivers and streams with freshened water to run towards the plains and valleys in the south. The days had noticeably lengthened, the formerly trees carried buds of green or blossoms of pastel colours, while wild spring flowers began to sprout from the awakening soils. And to make everything a touch more verdant, the skies would frequently darken to spill heaven's waters onto the ground to be sucked up by thirsty roots.
Spring happened to be the busiest time for the outer alchemist school as everyone bustled to nurture seeds and plant seedlings into the herb fields, a mixture of fast and slow growing crops to fill their empty stores of the most needed herbs for later use. This task was a mandatory chore for all outer school alchemists, Leon was no exception, so after the first years trudged through the mud to till and fertilise the fields with a specialised compost made mostly of sweet sunclover, purple spirit grass and crystal dust, he and fellow seniors carefully planted the nurtured seedlings into carefully spaced holes in specific fields.
It was tiring work that took several days to complete. All of the students who would be chatty over the morning breakfast, would be quieter over lunch and silent over dinner before soaking in baths poured by those off duty then crawling back to their domiciles to collapse a dreamless, exhausted sleep. Leon's home was further than others, so perhaps for that reason a certain stubborn, midnight coeurl took pity on him and carried him the extra distance. Just for that tenday week anyway.
Following this tenday without break, the students were given a tenday to themselves, only those who wanted to gain points and things in exchange for weeding would continue to push themselves into working. At this time, the usual antagonism between inner and outer schools rose to become more than hostile opinions behind the backs of others.
"Outer school students are so lazy."
"It's just growing herbs and they act as if they are dying!"
"If you put that much effort into growing them, how comes they aren't mature enough for us to use yet?"
Of course, these poisonous words simply came from a minority, a mixture of naturally talented elites and born nobles with silver spoons, not the hardworking seniors who strove to transfer from outer to inner sect nor those from a farming background who could sympathise a little better. But it just so happened that this minority were also the most popular or feared or idolised group, thus their opinions became the opinions of the student body of the inner school.
It should be mentioned that it was not that the inner school had no fields, but that their fields were cared for usually by former outer school students who took positions in school after having to graduate without achievements. They were talented in the aspect of herb gardening, but lacked better than average ability in making pills. Perhaps their cultivation was not so excellent as well. Of course, the inner school students were still taught this vital craft, but their lessons were in greenhouses, each having the chance of raising herbs in a miniature garden, using raised beds, pots and such like. How can a metre square of sheltered space compare to several hundred mu of fields?
The inner school defended their decision of course. These were the cream of the crop when it came to alchemist talent! They needed to be guided and nurtured in developing pills and potions for the good of the cultivation world, not hoeing fields and digging out weeds!
"Spoiled inner school brats!"
"Where do they think the majority of the herbs they use come from? Fey and Faeries?"
"I don't think we should share our crops, let them suffer!"
"Shh! Don't let the Teachers hear you!"
Two sides of the fence, yet from the same family, Merylin summoned her sister in order to ensure that their relationship would not be affected by the schism of schools. Merylin was a Di daughter, Maimai a shu-born, Miss Merylin's supporters thought she was too virtuous and kind a person, overly worrying about how Miss Maimai was coping due to her inferior position.
Actually, it was not that at all. Merylin was not like those girls who only schemed to suppress their sisters in order to ensure those girls 'knew their place!' Only by maintaining a good relationship could Merylin continue to rely on Maimai's support in the future or else, wouldn't she simply be severing unknown connections and paths that she could use at that time? Maimai was not unaware of her sister's thoughts, however it was better for a shu daughter with less background to maintain a cordial relationship with her legitimate siblings so that she would not find herself without a place to go one day. At the same time, neither girl would continue to hold onto the other's hand if there came a time when they had no other choice but to separate. So their relationship was just like this.
"Sister," Merylin grasped Maimai's white hands with their now broken nails and tinted stains of mud and looked at her with grieving eyes. "You've suffered! If only I could arrange for someone to replace you there, I'd willingly allow you to shelter with me until all of that ghastly work was done!"
"No need!" Maimai said cheerfully, shaking off her sister's hands so she could pour a cup of tea for them both. Merylin had better quality of tea than herself and it had already been brewed by the girl as well. All Maimai had to do was pour and enjoy, which she did with a savoured sigh.
"Sometimes I find this school's rules so absurd," Merylin muttered, taking the offered cup in one hand and sipping lightly. "How is it that well bred girls should be expected to traipse through mud with boys and commoners? If father knew..."
"If father knew, I'd be withdrawn from home and bored to tears in Li Yiniang's courtyard," Maimai interrupted her. Li Yiniang was her biological mother. She was a delicate lady, prone to tears and a cousin of Merylin's mother. She had come to care for Merylin's mother during the woman's confinement after birth and had ended up staying permanently after falling in love with her daughter's father. Naturally, Merylin's mother was not happy about the matter, but the rice had already been cooked and Li Yiniang was a weak woman who never pitted herself against her cousin, so Merylin's mother tolerated her presence a little more than the other concubines.
"Besides," Maimai smiled warmly to assuage her sister, "it wasn't bad, maybe even a little fun!" Maimai was not great at making pills and was stronger than ordinary girls. Using her natural endurance, smiling without complaint as she worked alongside others, there was a satisfaction to it that she'd not really experienced before. She'd even volunteered to help weed the fields, learning how to identify the plants that sucked out the vital nutrients of the fields, potentially damaging the growth of the herbs alongside Leon who'd come to her aid when he'd noticed that she was about to pull out a seedling.
It turned out that she had better ability, in the end, at removing the weeds intact, not leaving any root behind to regrow and begin to harm the fields once more. This matter required not only physical strength, but also spiritual sight (pouring spiritual energy into the senses), something Maimai was particularly good at. So with Leon identifying the weeds and her removing them, they'd cleared one mu well and efficiently and earned Teacher Sagi's praise.
Using her body in this way had proven to be beneficial in more ways than one. Just yesterday afternoon, while she cultivated after lunch, she noticed that there had been a change in her innersea; she was about to break through into secondary stage.
With renewed inspiration, I am back with the beginning of a new ‘arc’ for the boys. I’ve a few chapters prepared and unless something unexpected happens, I should keep to my usual schedule from now on. Thank you for your patience!
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