Stormy Mountain Sect Chapter 2

*** AUTHOR'S NOTE ***

Enjoy!

*** AUTHOR'S NOTE ***

Mom led me to a prominent table at the exhortation of the Mayor’s Wife, Bronwyn. Samara and Summer went to the buffet tables. Summer got her plate, while Samara grabbed three, getting one for mom, myself, and her. I tried to go help, but all three of my family members told me to sit down. “Okay,” I said, then took a deep breath. I felt like everyone was looking at me.

Mom deliberately sat me down in the middle of the table, while the three of them sat to my left. Only a minute passed before Nuan was placed just to my right. Her dad, who normally tried to chase me away, was the one pushing her to sit next to me. “Hi,” I said, blushing and looking down.

“Hi,” she repeated. “So, uh, my dad was telling me how wonderful of a man you are. Going on and on about it, actually.”

“You mean I am not a horrible waste of space, or a corruptor of your good nature?” I asked, repeating two of his favorite insults.

“Nope,” she said brightly. “Talent and potential trump familial circumstance I guess.”

“Did you get an invitation to go straight to the outer sect?” I asked.

She nodded, “Though Inspector Crane was insistent I should look at the army. A high-talent fire affinity cultivator could go far. I am sure he is already dreaming of the day I join the artillery corps.”

“You would do awesome wherever you end up,” I said. “Though I will argue you should join the Sect, just out of selfishness.”

“What, you do you not think I will find a noble scion who will become entranced by my beauty and pledge his undying loyalty?”

“Oh, I am sure of it,” I laughed. “You are more than beautiful enough for that. I also know you are smart enough to not fall for that kind of pig crap.”

She laughed, the sound entrancing me like it always did. “I doubt I could find someone who treated me as well as you do.”

I smiled and reached over for her hand. I gave it a quick squeeze, then let go as her mom sent me an acidic look. I leaned in close to her, “Even with your dad approving, your mom still does not like me.”

“I am sure that is because of the many times you annoyed her,” Nuan laughed.

“Flirt later,” Samara said. “You need to eat so you can be ready for the talk with Inspector Crane and Elder Li Mei.”

I shook my head and gave Nuan a grin, but her younger brother almost repeated Samara’s statement word for word while putting a plate in front of her. We ate quickly, then suffered through dozens of villagers talking about how they always knew we’d be highly talented and would amount to greatness. Polite noises were their only response, except when they tried to negotiate concessions in future trades already. “Look, Merchant Biyu,” I finally interrupted one of them. “Nuan and I will not sign or verbally agree to a contract to purchase a dozen rugs from you to furnish our future homes. We have no idea how long from now it will be before we are even in a place to purchase one. If you do not have anything else useful to talk about, please leave so Blacksmith Smith can speak with us.”

“Well I never,” the overweight merchant lady said, but she shuffled off all the same.

“I just wanted to congratulate you,” Smith said, looking between me and Nuan. “If you want, please come by before you leave. I have a few different weapons made, and you are welcome to take one. Just think of me when you need a new one forged, eh?”

“Of course,” I said. “I will not forget that you were the only smith willing to sell to my family for the last few years. I will see you benefit from your largess.”

He reached over and patted my shoulder, “That was because your dad helped me out immensely several times. I will not forget him and the other smiths are wrong for forgetting what he did for our town.”

“Never the less, I will remember your charity for all time,” I said.

“And so will I,” Nuan said. “I did not known you were having trouble with getting smithing work done.”

“I was not,” I said. “Blacksmith Smith is immensely capable. I count the loss of the other smiths as negligible.”

“Thank you,” he said with a grin. “I will use that to advertise against the others.”

“Please do so, with my compliments,” I said.

“Mine as well,” Mom said. “You stood by us, and I will see you rise with us.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Smith said with a bow. “I will leave you now.”

That was the last purely positive interaction. Dozens more tried to insinuate themselves as helpers of my family, when they had mostly ignored us before. At least,I thought after the largest butcher proclaimed friendship with my family, Mom, Samara, and Summer will be okay with me leaving. Hopefully outer sect disciples have a source of income I can use to send money home.

The line in front of us dispersed, and Inspector Crane walked up, leading Elder Li Mei. “Are you done eating?” He asked politely.

“Of course, sir,” I said, standing quickly in front of him.

He looked down to see that my plate was empty before saying, “Good. Follow us please. You too, Nuan. You will benefit from this discussion as well.”

Mom grabbed my hand. “Go to the sect, even if it is not good for us,” she said. “Do not throw away your future for me.”

“How could I not?” I asked. “I will help support you and my sisters, no matter what. I love you.”

She looked sad for a second. “I love you too,” she said.

I ruffled Summer’s hair when I walked past her. The eight-year-old stuck her tongue out at me, then frowned. I could see her realizing i was leaving and it would be a long time before I saw her again.

“I will say goodbye,” I said, bending down to give her a kiss on her cheek. “I would never leave without one last hug for my favorite younger sister.”

“I am your only younger sister,” she said.

“Does not change anything about you,” I laughed. She stuck her tongue out at me. I ruffled her hair again, and followed the two senior officials into the Mayor’s residence. We were led to the right, away from where I knew Mayor Sandburg lived, and into a meeting room he used occasionally to talk to merchants.

“Please, take a seat,” Elder Li Mei said.

Nuan and I sat, looking expectantly at the Inspector and Elder. “Are either of you contemplating the army?” Inspector Crane asked resignedly.

I looked over to Nuan, and then back at him. “Uh, no sir,” I said. “I know that even at the Stormy Mountain Sect we could still be called upon to defend our kingdom, and we are okay with that. Of course we want to defend our home, and the sect has stood by the kingdom in every crisis.”

Inspector Crane looked over at Elder Li Mei, “As always, the highest talents seek you out.”

“Of course,” she said. “We can nurture and strengthen them better than the army can. We, as always, stand ready to defend the kingdom as well. Now, both of you stand to receive a wage of ten silver a month as an outer sect member. You will have a minimum number of work credits to achieve every month, with extra credits available if you wish to work beyond the norm. You will be expected to increase your cultivation regularly, and will be given a single Light-dark Expansion Pill a month. This pill is sacrosanct, and cannot be challenged for. Your credits earned, beyond the minimum required, can be fought for, to encourage all of our disciples to develop themselves in the realms of martial combat.”

She paused, looking at us. “Typically, the sect is called upon to defend the realm from demon incursions and from the demon and blood cult sects. Martial might is the necessity in those cases, so we encourage our disciples to test each other in the arena.”

“Can we use the credits we earn to get silver and send it to our families?” I asked.

“Yes,” Elder Li Mei said. “That is common among our non-noble disciples. The rate changes routinely, but generally a credit is worth around five silver. You will be required to work for many credits before you get a single one in payment, though. You must first earn your keep, earn your food, and the pills given to you. Additionally, the credits are used to access the armory, the library, and the apothecary. Without sufficient credits, you will fall behind your peers and be jeered and laughed at. So be prepared to work hard for what you wish to receive.”

“We will,” Nuan said, her face determined.

“Good. We leave in the morning at the fourth bell,” Elder Li Mei said. “There are four more towns on our circuit before we head home. Pack well, and meet us here by the third bell if you wish to join us. The soonest you may return and visit family is the winter soulstice. If you are not willing, then good morrow to you.”

The Elder and the Inspector swept out of the room. I looked at Nuan. She looked at me. “I am guessing I will rarely see you,” she said. “Since you will be working all the time.”

“I, uh,” I paused. “Yeah, probably. Though I will make time to spend with you, just like I have been these last two years.”

“You just think I am gorgeous,” she said, leaning in to me.

“Well, yeah,” I said. “And smart, and funny, and kind, and thoughtful, and capable, and gorgeous.” I grinned at her.

She leaned in, and I matched her, giving a light and soft kiss. My brain short circuited for a second as my first kiss tried to process. I’d never had the courage to kiss her, even when we spent several hours talking and leaning against each other at night.

She smiled at me, then pulled me into a much deeper kiss. I lost track of time, finally coming too after she’d pulled back. “I cannot wait,” I told her. “I will succeed at cultivating, and earn your father’s and mother’s approval to court you.”

“I cannot wait,” she repeated what I said to her, then kissed me again. “We need to pack.”

“Okay,” I said dreamily. Nuan just laughed, then dragged me out of the chair.

“Come on,” she said. “I do not want to be late tomorrow. I know they will leave without us if we are not on time.”

I shook my head while giggling, “Of course.” I grabbed her hand. “I do not know if I could do this without you,” I said.

“You could,” she encouraged me, but she threaded her fingers in mine. “You are strong enough to do anything.”

I just grinned at her, and we left the building still holding hands. The rest of the night was a blur that ended with mom shoving a backpack full of clothing and mementos next to my bed. “I will wake you on time. Sleep well, my amazing son,” she said as she tucked me in for what was likely the last time in my life.l

“I love you, mom,” I said, then closed my eyes.