The Heavens Shall Fall

As winter went on, Siu had to realize he really liked it more and more. When he woke up, at the right time, just before sunrise, leaving his room with two, complaining furballs latched onto him under his winter robes... everything was still pure and clean. It just felt... perfect. The snow covering the landscape was unbothered, untouched, and the way it crunched below his feet was calming, with a bonus perk of most disciples not even stepping out of their rooms for the next few hours... and he preferred it this way.

He had just finished clearing the entrance to his abode because the snow piled waist-high against the stone door, which was also the perfect warm-up before his morning training session. That lasted usually from dark until dawn, and right before proper breakfast, the only time the two lazy ones finally decided to wake up and stick their heads out of his robe.

By now, he was firmly in the Marrow Cleansing stage, and the grime that his body kept pushing out had greatly lessened, but it hadn’t stopped entirely, usually being the worst while meditating and not when exercising. As for today, it had been tolerable so far, only forcing him to wash up with a towel before leaving the training ground. As he walked, Arya sat atop his left shoulder, her fluffy tail brushing his cheek as she yawned, while on his right sat Marly, doing the same, in perfect sync with her best friend.

“Master, you smell like… only half of a swamp today.”

“Not that bad,” Marly added, picking up on Arya's way of speech, “You are less slimy, I approve!”

“Thank you for the validation,” he muttered aloud, "For both of you. Very supportive, really."

"You're welcome." They both said, and Arya was about to ask him to hurry towards the meat-factory, the way she usually called the kitchens, when he heard the snow crunch and someone coming up from behind.

“Tian,” he said as he turned around, looking at the boy, looking at him with a raised brow.

“What, you can now pick out people by their steps alone?” Tian asked as he slowed to a stop. “I don’t even need to announce myself from now on, Your Highness?”

“Actually, yes, that's right.” Siu nodded, thinking about it, realizing he wasn't doing it consciously, but... something that he instinctively could now do... just like...

He couldn't help but glance at Arya, thinking if their connection was the reason for it... He should ask to access such tomes, to read up on beast taming, even if he was just an outer disciple.

“That’s insulting.” Tian snorted, squinting at the two sitting on his shoulders as he dusted snow from his sleeves, then leaned closer. “But not as insulting as what I will say next... Look... I need a favor.”

“You?” Siu asked, surprised, making Tian roll his eyes at the genuinely shocked look on Siu's face.

“Can you at least let me finish?”

“Sorry, I just... Didn't expect that coming from you.”

“Me neither.” He shrugged, "But I'm part of a group now," He pointed at the Ember Circle's pin on his robe's sleeve, "I am part of a unit."

"Yeah, I know," Siu stared at him, shaking his head, "So? I'm not joining."

"Whoa," Tian raised both hands. “Relax! It’s not like that. Kinda...”

“Then?” He asked, raising a brow, "Is it like that or not? There is no... kinda in a sect."

“It’s Cal’Fia, but I don't think it's about roping you in. She understood your answer the first time.”

"Go on..." Siu’s expression didn’t change as he waited for him to continue.

“She hopes you’re free and has asked me to go look for you and see if you are available.”

“I’m not.”

"Are you really going to make me beg or something?!" Tian exhaled sharply, breathing out a massive cloud of hot air in anger, “You didn’t even ask why!”

“Because I assume it involves either hunting, joining your Circle, or a fair warning. I had the latter part already, I'm not in the mood to look for an encore.”

"It involves an actual Inner Disciple,” Tian added, interrupting him halfway, and that made Siu pause.

"Those are the... stronger guys, yes?" Marly asked, watching Arya nod, but they mostly remained silent to not disturb Siu's thinking.

“So... If it's that important..." Siu began after his pause, "She didn’t come herself because...?”

“She’s hosting our guest, and I was sent out in a hurry, that's why. We didn't know he would show up in here... It's that guest who really wants to meet you.”

Siu’s instinct was immediate refusal once again, but, for his own future's sake, maybe it was only polite to meet them once before refusing a follow-up meeting. Whatever this disciple's motives were, sooner or later, he would have to deal with it when he entered their rank.

"She said, and I quote," Tian continued, seeing him fall silent, "If he refuses, that’s fine. But I would appreciate it if you at least tell him this isn’t about collecting him.”

“Can I know why?”

“I don’t know.” Tian shrugged, "You damn well know that!"

“You always know something.”

"I always have a quip because I hate not having the last word," Tian shrugged, shaking his head, "The only thing I know is that he’s Cal’Fia’s cousin.”

“Oh? Blood relation?” He asked, mostly himself, "That's... interesting."

“Master…" Arya nudged his neck, flicking her tail, "Tian doesn’t smell like a liar, and he smells...”

"Desperate." Marly finished for her.

“Lead on...” Siu shrugged his shoulders in the end, “And if this turns into recruitment or to pressure me into a hunt...”

“You’ll walk out.” Tian said, nodding in utter surrender, "Yeah, yeah, I know."

...

....

......

Cal’Fia’s personal abode was warmer than most outer disciple dwellings, thanks to the pitfire going in the middle of the room that was not lavish, but clearly maintained with care, giving it... a rustic feeling. Besides the main fire in the middle, two bright lanterns burned near the entrance where snow had been cleared neatly from the initial pathway leading to her door.

“Welcome.” She said, opening the door and inviting him in with a smile.

“Thank Tian for it,” Siu replied, stepping past the covered patio and into her home.

"Naturally," Cal’Fia chuckled, nodding at Tian as the two boys entered.

The main chamber of the stone-made house was simple but refined, with thick wooden beams holding up the high ceiling, but what drew Siu's attention was a low table with tea already prepared... And the man sitting there, who looked perhaps five or six years older than Siu himself. Measuring him, he was an average-looking man, with dark hair tied loosely at the back, with some red tinge as the fire's light flashed across his face. He felt... contained, at least, that was Siu's first reaction when measuring him and meeting with his crimson-colored eyes.

“Just Siu,” he said with a slight nod and smile as he stood up, watching him come closer.

"I don't know who spread that bad joke, but..." Siu inclined his head back, "Just is not a name nor a title."

“I know." He answered, his grin growing a little, "But it's funny. My name is Val.”

"Just Val?"

"Hah!" He snorted, shaking his head, "No, but good one! Its... Kal Val. Don't ask questions!" He added, rolling his eyes, "Just Val will do... Wait!" He then added again, seeing Siu open his mouth, right before the man began laughing, slapping his thigh, "I ran into that... Anyway! I’m part of the Inner Disciples, as you can see," He added, pointing at the silver sash that he was wearing, "And also the leader of the Fire Ring.”

"Fire Ring?" Siu asked while he sat down, and didn't even notice that Cal'Fia now acted like some maid in her own home, pouring tea for both of them.

“It's the same as the Ember Circle, really, only... Stronger. So, I appreciate you coming,” Val continued, “And I appreciate freedom, so I'm not here to invite you into either group. We mostly recruit from the Circle, if there are any good seeds.” He chuckled, throwing a glance at Tian, "I guess I don't need to explain much."

"No, not really," Siu’s gaze moved to his tea, raising it to his lips. As he did so, Arya hopped onto the back of Siu’s chair, while Marly climbed onto the table's edge, sniffing cautiously, looking at the simple cookies prepared next to the teapot.

“Two contracted beasts,” Val muttered, looking at them, smacking his lips, “And with a Mutual Contract... Incredible... Even if they are small.”

“I was lucky,” Siu answered simply, taking some of the cookies, giving both of them a piece, and even Arya accepted it to his surprise... Even though it wasn't meat-filled snacks.

“No intention of selling them?”

“None whatsoever,” Siu answered before he even finished his question.

"Good," Val's lips curved again, squinting at him, apparently testing him with questions like this. "I hate tamers who flip their partners."

"Tamers?" Tian muttered without thinking and then shifted awkwardly, trying to remain silent.

"Taming beasts is not a gift. Most, if not all, cultivators can do it after a certain level of strength... So it's a... profession," Val said, raising his voice and then his cup to take a sip, "And yes, some have a better affinity for it than others, but it's not... rare. Back from where we come from," He nodded towards Cal'Fia, "Our family has links to a few, so-called taming guilds. Cultivators who couldn't make it in a sect proper, but aren't weak like mortals either, people creating their own little businesses. Vagabonds if you will... They make their living from capturing and taming beasts and then selling them. Anyway, not all of those are to my liking... a bond between beast and its master is... intimate. It has to be respected."

"And you hunt... beasts." Siu folded his hands loosely, not trying to challenge his words, but, with his recent understandings, he was curious how Val looked at things.

"Naturally." He answered at once, "To grow stronger, you can't be a pacifist. Walk into the forest alone and something will hunt you... That's the law of this Realm. But I'm not here to exchange philosophy, albeit I find it relaxing..." He smiled genuinely at him, "And I won’t waste your time. I asked to meet you for one reason: because you survived the Icecrown hunt, and your help made it possible that the Circle is the one catching the stag.”

"Are you here... to thank me?" Siu asked, unsure what he wanted.

“No, but you can take it as a thanks if you want," He said, emptying his cup, "I don’t care about the politics surrounding the disciples, because it's troublesome...”

"So, about not wasting time..."

"Hah!" Val chortled, glancing at Cal'Fia, "I like this guy! You should get on together with him."

"...." That made Siu flinched, and Arya almost jumped onto the table to protest... only to get blocked by Marly, who, seeing the confusion, rushed forward, grabbing all the cookies and stuffing them into her mouth, looking like she was stung by a beehive, scurrying back to Siu's lap, hiding, trying to quickly eat all of the cookies now occupying the inside of her mouth.

"Val..." Cal'Fia moaned, rubbing her face, "I told you I have no interest in boys..."

"I tried..." Her cousin muttered, shrugging with a disappointed look, "Well, whatever, I'm here to tell you," He looked back at the surprised Siu, "That my Fire Ring is not the only one having connections to outer collectives, like the Circle or Pebble Ward."

"Stone Ward," Cal'Fia added, but Val just ignored her.

"So, you are here to... Do what? Warn me?" Siu asked after thinking it over, leaning forward.

"Yes." He nodded, "They won't make a move on you, of course, but ample inner disciples had noticed your achievements already, and the two companions you nurture. They want them, and if they can't get them, they want you. And if they can't have you, they want you suppressed, because people like you may rob them of opportunities or resources in the future, and the latter is finite."

"..."

"The competition amongst disciples," Val added, seeing him thinking about it, "is fierce by design. It's the Hollow Song's whetstone, to raise us properly, because the sect is aiming to be dominant amongst its peers... As all the others do."

"Thank you for the warning," Siu said in the end, genuinely nodding his head in respect towards him.

"I like making new friends." He leaned back, grinning, "Even if you never join my group, we can still work together and help each other in the future. Of course, others have different opinions, but each to their own."

"How much do I need to worry?"

"Not much," Val answered after thinking about it, "They won't attack you or anything, but... just keep an eye out for strange offers, always check the prices, and be wary of sudden favors or gifts. There are some crafty disciples around who I wouldn't trust with a basket of eggs, to be honest with you..."

"Charming." Cal'Fia snorted, shaking her head, making Arya agree, who also had her thoughts about the whole issue, using curses that would make everyone's face turn red, but Siu did his best to block her rambling out of his ears.

"It does not mean they are bad people," Val argued for his fellow disciples, "As I said, it's just competition and part of the game. You all are cultivators now, and this is how our world works. So, Siu," He looked into his eyes, measuring him, "How long is it until we become equals?"

"I don't have a time," He answered, taking a deep breath, "But I'm not in a hurry... So, it will happen when it will happen."

"Huh." Val murmured, leaning back and crossing his arms, "First time I had ever heard something like that... especially from an outer. Now I start to understand why Seloryn's eyes stopped on you... She always had a good nose on her, sniffing out people and their intentions."

"You know her?" Siu asked, getting a bit curious.

"Yeah, she is an independent gal who I like." Val nodded, grinning, "She looks prim and proper, but she has a thorny and vindictive side... Luckily, I had never crossed her, so we have a good relationship! But... there are some inner disciples who would love to see her ruined."

"Does this affect me in any way?"

"Nah." He shook his head, "It's the other way around, your actions may affect her... But you don't have to worry about that!" He added, standing up and dusting his hands, "She has good friends... She will be fine. And if you are in a pinch," he glanced at Cal'Fia then back at Siu, "Come to the Circle and they will help you out or help you contact me. Independence is good, Siu," he said, his face turning solemn, showing he meant what he was about to say, "But without flexibility, it becomes a hindrance. We are not alone in a sect... And we will never be, otherwise, we should have stayed vagabonds."