The Heavens Shall Fall

After the chaos of the previous day, Siu had expected Elder Thane to come to him privately and probably lecture him a bit louder. He was expecting him to be angrier than what he had shown while outsiders were present, but nothing like that happened. Instead, it was a quiet night, and when dawn came, and he was looking out the window, he was surprised once again. He thought he would see soldiers marching past the residence, or maybe citizens gathering outside to curse the cultivators, but... That didn't happen either.

Despite the calm atmosphere, Siu had not slept much, his mind wandering to how many people had been injured. He could recall the buildings that had been damaged, but he couldn't account for the number of mortals who had nothing to do with any of it and had been caught in their battle. And they were not even strong... barely proper cultivators, their affinities still in their awakening phase. How destructive was someone in the Second Circle then? When their powers can truly shine? When just using essence, they could float in the sky...

"It's not like anyone got badly injured, Master," Arya spoke up, making Siu shrug and shake his head.

"Even then, we can't be this careless. Do you understand? Both of you? If we fight, we can't endanger those who have nothing to do with it."

"But it was those two who started it!" Marly argued, making Siu shrug again, not wanting to debate with the two.

Despite it all, when his thoughts returned to the beginning, to the moment Vael had asked for asylum, his conclusion did not change. If someone asked for help, he would not hand him over. He was a subordinate, isn't he? From a sect that was doing the Hollow Song's bidding... then, they ought to listen to one of their requests and investigate the issue themselves. That was when a knocking finally interrupted his thoughts, and he turned towards the door at once.

“Enter,” Siu said.

The door opened, and Joren leaned in, already dressed, though his expression suggested he had not enjoyed his sleep either, with two dark bags visible under his eyes.

“Elder Thane wants everyone downstairs.” He said in a barely audible voice.

“So I guessed...” Siu nodded, taking a deep breath and following him downstairs.

Seloryn and Ruben were already waiting in the study, sitting on the couch, while Thane was standing before the window, arms crossed before his chest. As Siu glanced around, he noticed that Vael was present too, seated on a chair with his wrists bound by a thin black strap, making him raise an eyebrow. Moving his eyes up from the strange thing, Vael's face looked better than yesterday, however strange that felt in his situation. Vael stared back at him for a moment, when their eyes met, before nodding and even allowing himself to smile a little.

“Sit,” Thane said once they were all present. “Let's talk before you all leave Mirebell. Your cargo has already been prepared, as yesterday House Vardek sent notice before midnight. After we are done here, you are to pack up and leave. No delays, no sightseeing; go back. Understood?"

"Yes." They all answered without hesitation.

"Mhm. Also," He glanced at his new 'prisoner,' sitting on the chair, "Vael Renwick will not be traveling with you. This being a delicate situation, I will bring him back to the sect myself, ahead of you all.” he said firmly. “When you are back and making the mission report, detail the events the same as you told me. After that, you can put it behind you, as this will be the Elders' job to look into." Listening to him, Vael’s fingers tightened against his knees, but he said nothing, knowing full well that his interrogation would truly begin only when he was in the Hollow Song. “Don't try to look for missions in their region, understood?" Thane added, glaring at Siu before any of the others, "The Stormglass Pavilion's matter will be dealt with through proper channels and not by inner disciples in a city street. Also!" He shot a glare at Seloryn and Ruben, "Not by Paragons. Not by anyone here.”

"I wouldn't even want to," Ruben coughed lightly, masking his quiet remark, yet Thane glared at him, understanding it clearly, so Ruben became very interested in the wall, not even looking at him.

"We won't." Seloryn bowed her head. “We understood, Elder.”

“I hope,” Thane whispered as his gaze settled on Siu again, and he straightened up at once. “When you return to the sect,” He said in the end, “I will come find you.”

Hearing that, Arya’s tail stiffened against Siu’s back, and Marly also stopped breathing for a moment. That... did not... sound... good.

"I..." Siu kept his expression steady, inhaling once again, “Yes, Elder.”

Joren glanced at Siu with a look that tried to be encouraging but fell flat, because he himself looked terrible at that moment. Not stretching the silence for long, Thane stepped away from the window, standing next to Vael now.

"Come on," He said, placing a hand on Vael'S left shoulder, “I will bring you along; we should be back home by sunset.”

With the topic considered done and closed, the group had left the house, actually hurrying away, before anyone could say anything else. The moment the house's door closed behind them, Ruben exhaled dramatically, happy they were back on the street.

“Well,” he said, looking at the rest, “I believe that means we are through the thick of it and we can stay as Paragons. A better outcome than I expected!”

"Is that all you care about?" Joren looked at him, rolling his eyes. “You expected to lose your title?”

“I expected to lose something, yeah." He nodded back, "With this, I already lost a lot of dignity, little brother. That fight was unnecessary.”

“You had some to begin with?” Joren snorted, taking Siu's side, feeling Ruben was accusing him with his words, "News to me."

“Little brother, your cruelty wounds me!”

"Stop it," Seloryn glanced back at the two, walking before them all, “And don’t celebrate too loudly. Elder Thane can probably still hear you...”

"That's..." Ruben’s smile faded at once, "...true."

As they walked, Siu remained silent, his attention naturally on the people, who were also looking at the group wherever they passed. Workers, who were already out like little ants, paused their repairs to whisper between themselves. He even saw a pair of boys act out part of the battle with sticks until their mother grabbed them both by the ears and dragged them away. Nobody actually looked angry, which surprised him. He even saw some street vendors selling crude recreations of the battle in the form of paintings. What the...? Was one of those figures, battling a metal-made beast supposed to be him?

Siu couldn't help but stop, looking at it, feeling way too confused now. He was worried about what happened, and... now, seeing it... Have they become celebrities? Really?

"That's... weird," Joren muttered, also noticing, and Siu couldn't help but nod.

“Master,” Arya said slowly, “Why did they make your head so big?”

“That is not me.”

“It has two beasts!” Marly pointed it out, but neither of them looked like, well, how they actually look sitting on his head and shoulder.

“It could be anyone,” Siu argued fruitlessly.

“Yeah, true,” Arya agreed with him suddenly, "They draw me way too small. I'm not that tiny! Hmph!"

Siu started walking again instead of glaring at the paintings, but after that, the heaviness pressing down on all of them was gone for some reason. A few steps later, Joren even laughed a little, patting Siu's shoulder.

“Don’t worry. First city fight is always embarrassing.”

"You have experience with it?" Siu looked at him questioningly.

“Well, no." He grinned, "Mine was in a tavern, though. Got into an argument about how to run it and came to blows with the owner. And once, I knew a disciple who got into trouble for sinking a pleasure barge during a private banquet. That was worse than this little sting here!”

"Why am I not surprised you know people who go to visit whore-boats?" Ruben sighed, shaking his head. "I, on the other hand... This is the first blemish on my perfect resume."

“Finally then.” Joren snorted, "Nobody can keep a clean slate; we aren't constructs."

"You two," Siu shook his head despite smiling to himself. “That is supposed to make me feel better?”

“A little.” Joren shrugged. “Look, there are no disciples who don’t get into trouble at least once. Anyone who says otherwise either never left their room or had powerful enough backing to make the records disappear. I would bet you anything that some of the elders back home have some extensive records while being disciples! It comes with the territory!”

"Listen to him," Seloryn nodded, too. “He is not entirely wrong.”

“Thank you,” Joren said, smiling happily.

“He is mostly wrong,” Seloryn added, wiping off his smirk. “But not entirely.”

"Oh come on!" Joren clicked his tongue, especially after hearing Ruben's chortle.

"Don't worry, I understand," Siu continued, sounding relaxed, just like the others, “As for what will happen when we are back, and I'm summoned again, if I am punished for the fight, then I will accept it.”

“You sound like someone trying very hard to be mature.” Ruben mused, rubbing his chin, "I can't tell if it's a front or not..."

“You are the last to speak on the matter,” Joren answered for Siu, almost kicking the backside of his half-brother.

"Well," Ruben tapped his umbrella lightly against his shoulder. “I will say this much: Siu, you may be stupid, but you are not cowardly.”

“Thank you?”

"Also," Ruben continued, looking between him and Seloryn, "I didn't know you had a similar affinity to Seloryn. Now I get why she is hanging around you."

"Y-yeah." Siu answered in the end, looking away, not wanting to get into the details, "Something like that."

"I know, I know!" Ruben chuckled, dropping the topic, "I'm not here to interrogate you about it; I just noticed. That's all."

By the time they reached the yard where Cinna was, it was clear the whole city knew everything. Guards, stablehands, passing merchants, even several drivers from other caravans had gathered near the yard, trying to see the people who caused a ruckus in the city. The moment they arrived, as if on a cue, every conversation stopped. It made Cinna's crying chirp even louder as she almost began trotting forward, but got held back by the loaded carriage attached to her.

"I hate this... Let's get a move on, as soon as possible," Joren whispered and then went to inspect the carriage at once, his mood turning serious.

As he got near the carriage, he noticed Erhard Vardek, who looked tired but also, for some reason, very much thrilled.

“Honored Disciples!” he greeted them, cupping his hands with great enthusiasm. “I am delighted to see you well after yesterday’s unfortunate excitement.”

“Unfortunate excitement,” Ruben repeated, smacking his lips, "You could say that."

"I saw it myself," Erhard’s smile did not wavering at all. “I almost wanted to jump in myself.”

"Thankfully, you didn't," Seloryn whispered, before raising her voice again. “Lord Erhard, that would have been too dangerous, considering it was a sect issue. Anyway," She continued, not wanting to dwell on the topic, "Thank you for preparing the cargo.”

“Of course, of course. Everything has been loaded and secured.” He glanced at Joren, who was already checking the braces. “Please do make sure that while traveling, the eggs remain level. I also included a revised manifest and damage-free certification.” He said, pressing a long, rolled-up parchment to Siu, "All the seals are as expected and should prove everything to be in working order."

In the meantime, Cinna kept chirping, and it was clear she was complaining about something.

"What's her issue?" Siu asked in the end.

"What isn't?" Arya said as she snorted. “She says you left her behind while doing something interesting. She's just jealous she wasn't there.”

“She would have made it worse,” Siu answered at once, but then Cinna chirped sharply, sounding hurt.

"Eh," Arya’s ears twitched, “She says it's impossible.”

"Yeah, it is possible," Siu placed a hand against the bird’s neck, calming her down. “The last thing we need is more trouble!”

Behind him, Erhard had lowered his voice while speaking to Seloryn and Ruben, but Siu still caught enough as he began preparing Cinna for departure.

“...naturally, the city is already speaking of it. A Second Circle Elder appearing is always a big thing. People will be talking about this for years! Naturally, it won't cause trouble for you, Honored Disciples, quite the opposite. This may bring a bit more fame to the city and bring in more people who come to look around. Something like this is great for business.”

“Please don’t encourage any others to follow in our footsteps, okay?” Seloryn said, finally sounding flustered and tired.

“My lady, I would never,” Erhard answered, but for some reason, Siu wasn't sure he believed him.

Maybe the change was the greatest for him. After all, the group that fought had their story tied directly to House Vardek. They walked with him; many people saw them together right before the fight... So, even if Erhard says nothing, now he was tied to a Hollow Song incident, an Elder's intervention, and who knows what else? This was something that could be massively advantageous for him to grow from, and Siu could practically see the calculations forming behind the man’s polite expression.

He was going to exploit this to the fullest.

“Everything is ready,” Joren announced at last.

“Then we leave,” Seloryn said in a hurry.

"I understand," Erhard bowed again, apparently also happy they would leave, and wouldn't start clearing things up with the onlookers. “May your road be swift, Honored Disciples. House Vardek remains grateful for the opportunity to serve.”

"Bet you are," Ruben climbed into the carriage, whispering under his breath. “He is going to tell this story at every banquet... I just hope he doesn't embellish it too much.”

“He absolutely will,” Joren said in a similarly hushed tone.

"Let's just go," Siu said, taking the driver’s seat and gathering the reins, and the moment Seloryn was up next to him, they were finally off, heading back home. "If we stay for too long, maybe some of the painters will want us to autograph their creations..."