The Heavens Shall Fall

The first few steps into the inner disciple territory were making Siu feel like he was once again a little kid, entering a strange place. The stone beneath his feet was smooth, telling him that countless people had already walked the same path for probably centuries upon centuries, and he couldn't help but wonder how many of those were still part of the sect. Smiling to himself, he shook his head and did his best not to look too impressed or out of place, not wanting to immediately betray the fact that he was a newcomer.

From the ridge he reached while walking the road leading into the middle of it all, the inner disciple territory had looked like even more of a city, one that was built between the five mountains of the Hollow Song Sect. Now that he was nearing its heart, he began to realize that even calling it a city was not the right word. Usually, a mortal city sprawled outward, but this land was limited by the mountains that surrounded it. So, instead of spreading sideways, it had grown upward, downward, sneaking across the cliffs, probably going through tunnels from what he could see, as some roads were reemerging from inside the mountains, and were connected by bridges that were hanging around the five peaks. Looking up, he could see that there were roads above him, and when he leaned over at the edge while crossing a bridge, more of the same was laid down beneath him. He could look into courtyards that were tucked into cliff faces and see training fields that were occupied by disciples, even this early in the morning. Taking a deep breath, he just smiled, continued walking, and watched as in the distance, an entire market street wrapped around a mountain slope, countless advertising banners fluttering in the wind, while, further below, a river cut through cultivated terraces that were growing herbs or who knows what else, probably for the sect itself.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered finally, unable to hold it back, because the sect he was chosen by as a child was nothing like this. Compared to this? That place was a shabby outhouse... Nobody had ever told him something like this could and would exist, and he had a fleeting sensation that his Old Man was unaware of it, too. Just... how strong was he? He couldn't help but wonder now, and after sensing Elder Thane's powers, he had a realization that his Old Man wasn't even close... It was becoming increasingly evident to Siu that his memories as a child, how he perceived the Old Man and the others in that sect, were feeling grand only because he was, well... small. A child.

"Incredible..." Arya finally piped up, still sitting on his head, “Master, this place... smells wonderful!”

“I agree.”

“It has too many smells." Marly added, "And too many people... It is a bit scary... scarier than how it was...”

Siu exhaled, agreeing with her on that point. He didn't expect it to be like this. Why was it like this? In his head, the outer disciples' living space should be the biggest, no? But then he thought of it from another angle. Would a sect want to take in everyone? Hoard people, waste resources on them, just so more than half of those never become anybody? Waste away their lives and, more importantly, CC, and then just go and die without paying it back? Of course not. The more he thought about it, the more convincing his thoughts sounded. The sect would only collect those talents they saw as having potential, raising them well, because that, in turn, would strengthen them in the future.

As he kept thinking and walking, nobody paid him much attention. It was a welcome change after the fact that he couldn’t walk down a path in the outer disciples' place, without someone recognizing him, greeting him, watching him, or pretending not to watch him while, in fact, watching him. Here, he was simply one more silver-sashed disciple among many. That was when he realized he had seen people walking around without a sash... What was that about? Of course, he couldn't just stop and ask, but it made him think that maybe this wasn't just the inner disciples' territory... but the sect itself. The proper Hollow Song Sect, and where he stayed until now, was just on the outskirts of their territory. It made him suddenly think that maybe, not everyone here was a disciple, maybe he was walking amongst the elders alike? Guests? Outsiders? He knew he would have to explore and learn more before anything, so he wouldn't step on someone's feet.

With that in mind, he began searching for somewhere where he could grab something to eat and come up with a proper plan to move forward. By now, the road ahead was busy, with inner disciples moving in both directions, some alone, some in groups, some even riding their own beasts, some carrying bundles, weapons, scroll cases, or sealed boxes marked with formation tags. A few wore robes that looked much finer than anything he had seen before, and they looked not only decorated, tailor-made, but... enhanced? He tried not to look too much, as nobody stopped to stare either, and he didn't want to be the only one. Luckily, the inner disciple section had too many faces for a single new one to get spotted or matter unless someone bothered to look closely.

“Master,” Arya said, her tail tapping against the back of his head. “You don’t know where you’re going... are you?”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“I know that I don't know.” He smiled, "But we will find something, I'm not afraid of that."

He kept walking, following the main road downward, because that seemed like the safest choice. As he did so, his first task became simple enough: find somewhere to stay. Unlike when joining the outers, inner disciples, apparently, were expected to arrange their own lodging from the start, along with any and all cultivation resources, training schedules, missions, and connections. There was no handholding from the sect's side, and no temporary places were assigned for those with no money or backing. Suddenly, he couldn't help but wonder, how Toban had started his first day in here... Probably bought a home the moment he found one. Subconsciously, his hand went for his belt and his pouch, tapping the CC he was given. It should be good for a while... The problem was that he had no idea where to start. He tried to see if any posts were pointing to sect-held businesses, like a Mission Hall or something, but... he saw none.

It was already clear that navigating the outer disciple section had been easy by comparison. The Mission Hall was obvious, of course, the kitchens too, but he couldn't smell any cooking meat down here. It all made sense after a little walking around back then, but here, just walking around won't cut it; that much was already clear. Scanning the buildings he was now passing by, he noticed that some had plaques, but many used symbols alone, marks that he didn’t recognize yet. Like, there was a two-story building, with a blue banner and a coiled serpent carving in the middle of it. That could have been a sign for medicine or poison... Or a restaurant with questionable taste. Or was it a sign for handling reptiles? Beast resources? He couldn't tell because the windows were frosted, so he couldn't look inside. As he kept walking, the next set of buildings was a row of residences built into a cliffside, with no visible entrances until a disciple walked up to a flat wall and vanished through a ripple of light.

“Ah... I see,” he muttered.

"I don't get it..." Arya leaned forward, staring at the wall. “Can we go through too?”

“No.”

“Why?” Marly asked.

“Because we can't see the entrance. Meaning, we are not allowed in. It has to be the same enchantment that was preventing us from perceiving roads up the mountains, like the one leading to Elder Delia. If we don't see it, forcing it would be a baaaaad idea.”

"Master!" Marly gasped. “What if they hide all the food like this?!”

“I just hope neither of you tries to break into one. Got it?”

“Yes. We are not touching random walls.” Arya nodded, and for some weird reason, Siu could feel she was super serious. Maybe she could feel more than he did, and she sounded... intimidated by the place. Or the number of things and people around them.

He continued onward without asking more questions, and after another half hour of wandering, he finally spotted something that made sense. It was a three-story building tucked beside a broad road that curved toward the lower terraces. Unlike many of the buildings around it, this one felt much more approachable, and a wooden sign over the entrance showed a painted cup with steam rising from it, placed beside a simple bed. There were tables outside under a shaded awning, and several disciples sat there drinking tea, eating, and talking, enjoying their breakfasts.

An inn. That much was already understandable, and it was good enough for a start.

“Finally,” Siu said with a relieved shrug.

“Food?” Marly asked instantly, sniffing the air.

“Information first.” Siu warned them, "We will rent a room if there is any, and then buy food. We have to be stringent with our spending for the start, okay?"

“Food is information,” Arya grumbled. “It tells us if this place deserves to live up to the grandeur, or it's just a sham.”

"Try not to bankrupt me on the first day, thank you very much," Siu answered as he stepped inside.

The interior was larger than it looked from the outside, which he was beginning to suspect would be a common occurrence up here. The first floor was arranged as a teahouse, with low tables spread around, cushioned seats, and shelves filled with cups, jars, and small sealed boxes. The air smelled of roasted leaves, with a fruity note and a tinge of honey-covered snacks, at least, going by Marly's nose. A handful of disciples glanced at him when he entered, their gazes briefly moving to his silver sash, glancing at Arya and Marly, raising a brow because nobody recognized anyone with those types of beasts, but then they looked away again when nothing about him demanded any immediate attention. Behind the counter, a young man with his sleeves rolled up was writing in a ledger, paying him no mind. He looked to be in his twenties, though Siu knew better than to trust appearances here. Finally, crossing something out and sighing, the man glanced up, noticing the new arrival.

“Welcome to the Resting Reed. Tea, meal, or room?”

"Ah," Siu hummed, walking up to him as his tone was refreshingly direct. “Room,” he said. “And information, if that comes with it.”

"Ah, indeed..." The man’s mouth twitched faintly, grinning. “Newly promoted?”

“Was it that obvious?” Siu said with a smile, making him chuckle and nod.

“Who else would ask for information? Because when you need that, you go to the brokers.”

"Even for directions?" Siu looked toward the side wall and finally noticed the price board, detailing the dozens of different teas they were serving.

“No, not for those,” he chuckled, "But when you word it the way you did, it is a clear giveaway." As he said that, the man closed his ledger and gave him a more honest smile. “Don’t worry. Everyone looks like that on their first day unless they have a senior waiting for them. By the way, I’m Joren, and I help run the place with three of my partners.”

“Disciple-owned?” Siu asked, looking back at him, raising a brow.

“Naturally," He nodded, "Everything here is disciple-owned or disciple-managed,” Joren answered, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Okay, not ALL but I would say... 70%? Somewhere around there. Some businesses pay fees to Elders for protected rights, passing their businesses down within their groups. In fact, many of the shops were owned by an Elder who had once been a disciple just like you and me. Still, they passed it down to others, and it became a tradition. You’ll get used to it.”

"Makes sense," Siu nodded slowly, glancing around again. “How much for a room?” he asked, pulling himself back out of his thoughts.

"Depends," Joren pointed toward the board behind him. “Common room, ten Ember Crystals a night. Private small room, twenty-five. One with a cultivation room attached, eighty. Long-term rates are cheaper, but I wouldn’t suggest committing before you know the valley. Prices vary greatly, you see."

"That's surprisingly honest of you," Siu said as he looked at the prices behind him.

"I'm not going to screw a newbie over, seeing that you have nobody to guide you along. I was in your shoes once, you know..."

"Thank you," Siu said, smiling, feeling he really liked Joren. “Eighty per night for the one with a formation?”

“A minor gathering formation,” He explained, “That’s cheap, you know. It is not especially strong, but stable, and believe me, I know you feel like the air alone is like being in a chamber itself. But that's because you are used to the outers' caves. Believe me, your body will adapt to it in two to three days, and you will need to use cultivation spots to properly meditate.”

"I already guessed that," Siu sighed as he recalculated his money, tapping his pouch with his fingers while doing so. “Okay, for now, I’ll take a private small room,” he said after a moment, “For three nights.”

“Good choice.” Joren reached beneath the counter and pulled out a small wooden token, his fingers flashing for a brief moment as he tapped it. “Seventy-five Ember Crystals, and this will be your key, number four. Press it against the matching door with the same number, and it will let you in. After three days, it will stop working. If you want to extend your stay, talk to me or anyone who will be here, and we can do that.”

"Naturally," Siu smiled at him as he paid.

“Food for the beasts?” Joren asked, glancing at Arya and Marly. “We charge extra besides the punishment that comes with it if they raid the kitchen.”

The way he said it, looking at Arya, she suddenly stiffened, then acted high and mighty, turning her head away.

“He is talking nonsense!” She added.

“Joren,” Siu asked curiously, “do people’s beasts often raid the kitchen?”

“Yes.” He moaned, rubbing his temple, "Usually, those who freshly tame one fail to train them well. Honestly speaking..." He furrowed his brows, "Now that I think about it, I hadn't seen an outer walk in with beasts in tow... like... ever. And you have two?"

"And they are well trained." He added, and to Joren's surprise, both Arya and Marly saluted with their tails. "I have a mutual contract with both, so they won't cause trouble."

"That is very... WHAT?!"

"Um... what?" Siu asked back, seeing his eyes go wide and look at the beasts, then back at him.

"Holy shit..." He suddenly began whispering, leaning closer, "Little brother, you got two beasts in a mutual contract as an... outer?! Are you pulling my leg?!"

"N-no." He said, "Elder Dalia helped me set it up."

"..." Now Joren fell silent, just gazing at him, trying to see if he was lying, but... "Fuck me... What's your name?"

"Siu."

"Mhm." He reached out, and Siu, not wanting to look rude, grasped his hand, shaking it, "Good to meet you, Siu. Two mutual contracts... man, you are not just a simple outer, are you? Were you brought in by an elder?"

"No, I was an outer just until yesterday. Have been here for almost two years."

"..."

Apparently, he should not have said these things; he knew it by how Joren was looking at him. But... he felt relaxed when looking at the man, and he had an inkling of liking his honesty. He wanted to return that, in a way.

"Joren?"

"Well," He shook his head, slapping his own face, "I guess I will have to pay attention to your name popping up here and there soon enough, eh? Damn!"

"I don't aim to do that," He shrugged, "I just want to cultivate."

"Sure." He grinned, and before Siu could answer, the door to the inn opened, and Joren looked past him. Siu could tell his expression shifted slightly, recognition mixing with respect.

“Someone important?” Arya asked through the bond, looking behind, and Siu began to turn as well.

A woman had stepped into the Resting Reed, her hair neatly arranged with a thin ornament shaped like a curved note, carrying a flute tucked into and held in place by her silver sash. Of course, Siu recognized her before she spoke.

"Senior Seloryn Veyra..." He muttered without thinking. As he said it, her eyes moved across the room, passed over Joren, then stopped on Siu, looking surprised to see him here, and then glanced at his sash.

“Well,” Seloryn said, walking up to him. “Advancing without sending a word about it? Was it that bad to work with me?”

"Of course not," Siu cupped his hands at once, “I just didn't think about it, Senior Seloryn. A lot... happened...”

"I was joking," she chuckled, “Though I suppose I should say congratulations first. Welcome to the inner disciples, Siu.”

Once again, surprised, Joren looked between them, one brow lifting with even more interest. Clearly, he didn't expect Siu to know Seloryn.

"Joren," she looked at him, still smiling, "I'd like the usual and bring one to Siu, too."

"Senior?" Siu started to speak, but she just waved a hand, indicating that he should go find a spot to sit down.

"Please," she said, continue to smile, "Let's talk... I was waiting for the moment you become an inner disciple, and apparently, my luck didn't disappoint. I woke up craving my favorite tea, and turns out... I run into you. You know," She added while Joren disappeared, beginning to prepare the tea and snacks, "Sometimes luck is just another word for fate."