The Iron Oath (An Oath/Contract Based Cultivation Quest).

This was written in very short bursts of inspirations so it's likely a bit rougher here and there but at this point good enough is good enough. I hope you enjoy (and that I did all of the social scenes right).

---

Returning to the place where Aurora found Ermis was made trivia by Gallus' perfect memory, her retainer able to remember every step of the way.

Aurora steps through the forest with her three retainers, dressed for battle. In contrast with her retainers who bore arms and armor Aurora was adorned in armor of a different sort.

Her short yellow and green silk dress blended with the forest canopy, it was one of Aurora few travel dresses, she didn't get to wear them too often as it was a rare occurrence that a social event would take place in the outdoor -for woman at least- and taking out this kind of dress into a ball room would see her laughed out and mocked.

Light makeup adorned her features, enough to supplement her natural beauty but not to overwhelm.

By the time Aurora party arrived in the small clearing, the bonfire was already lit, the flames reaching for the heavens and lighting up the night. Strangely, no heat could be felt from the flames.

Standing next to the flames was Ermis the giant blooded and he was not alone.

"My, my it sure is fitting that a brute will come to recruit a brute" Areti Vlahili snided at Aurora.

It was not Aurora who answered the insult -for doing so would be an acknowledgment of it- but Gallus who stepped forward -and was mirrored in turn by one of Areti retainers who moved to block his way.

"Did you come to spread your legs for power, as your mother did?" A shadow of rage shadowed Areti's face at Gallus' words, gone as soon as it appeared, only Aurora expert eyes letting her see a glimpse of it.

The Valhili were direct enemies of Aurora family, often competing for the same clients and the same markets so there were no minced words between them. In high society calling Aurora a brute would be a grave insult and bringing up Areti's mother past as a high-class prostitute would be graver still, the exchange enough to bring their families to blows.

But they were already enemies and Aurora would take great pleasure in rubbing Areti's failure to her face.

"I don't suppose you lot will give my family face and piss of?" Aurora turned her gaze toward the new presence in the clearing. Long and lush blond hair on a chiseled face and broad shoulders, Alex Condakis marched into the clearing with a smirk on his face, his five retainers in tow.

"What impudence" Areti said "even the Condakis do not possess the authority to make the Valhili kneel."

"Doubly so for the Protus, especially not by a mere branch member" silence fell upon the clearing as the three nobles sneered at one another, Aurora has hoped Alex would have been more diplomatic as she was contemplating cultivating that relationship but after the insult he gave, doing so would show weakness.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Areti make the slightest of nods toward her, so slight that if she wasn't looking for it, she wouldn't have seen it. But she was relieved by it all the same, if things developed to violence, it would be six against seven to their favor.

Enemies they might have been but the minor families have always stood together against major noble's overreach and they would do so again on this day.

The Condakis scion did not seem disturbed by the glares of the two ladies and their retainers keeping the same cocky expression on his face despite being outnumbered and aurora wouldn't blame him, outnumbered though he was, his retainers were one and all big, burly men trained for battle and with arms suitable for war.

And while she didn't doubt, she or Gallus were a match for any of them, Octavia was a different matter as well as Areti's and her retainers whom Aurora knew little about but were clearly under equipped for if things turned violent.

Thankfully things didn't come to that and soon enough the tense silence was broken by Ermis finishing his preparations.

Aurora saw him throw some sort of blue powder into the flames and they abruptly turned black drawing her body warmth not its unending maw. Ice began to frost up her hands and her breath became visible, beat by beat her heart slowed until finally it stopped and Aurora lost consciousness.

---

She awoke to a white expanse, an empty void with nothing but bright white light. Aurora did not panic, the research she did a few days prior had spoken of this expanse, a spatial realm constructed from the souls of those who were buried at the burial mound.

"Well, good to see at least one of you has something between her ears" a voice came from behind her. Aurora turned slowly and deliberately toward the old men who now stood behind her, who in turn merely raised a single questioning eyebrow.

Hard easy (due to prior research) Equitique (heart) check 14d S>6 R5

[I'm not going to bother to roll but I just wanted to show that there are checks here].

"I greet the pack head, this one is Aurora of the Protus pack, here to challenge for the allegiance of the cub Emris" there was a small smile upon the elder wrinkled face as she greeted him using the customs of his people.

"Well met Aurora of the Protus, this pack welcomes you within our domain and acknowledge your challenge".

"May I ask for the identity of the pack representative?"

"My identity huh?" The man seemed contemplative for a moment before breaking out of his fugue "I doubt my name will tell you much and it's unimportant besides, you may call me the White Blade if you so wish".

The White Blade… that name seems important.

Medium history (mind) check. 10d s>8.

[7,1,4,8,2,2,2,5,8,4]= 0s Aurora knows nothing!

Well, if it's important Aurora would just remember to ask Gallus when she's finished.

"With the pleasantries out of the way let's get down to business" at once the sight of a friendly old man disappeared and was replaced by a predator waiting to paunch "crown is a given this is a trial of allegiance". Aurora attempted to hide her surprise at his words, her research indicated she would possess a choice, "and you do but the test of crown is a requirement in trials of allegiances, and seeing as how little imperials truly attempt such a trial it doesn't surprise me it is not known but both of you would go through the crown test first".

Aurora supposed that trying to hide her physical tells is useless when her mind is being read like an open book "it's not quite absolute" the man interrupts her and yet his words only serve to reinforce her opinion -to a small chuckle from the man- but she sets the matter from her mind and focuses on the last part of his words "both us?" she asks "I thought there were three?"

"The boy is unsuited" was the reply.

"Why?" Aurora asked fishing for weaknesses in her rival, the white blade stared at her for a few moments, clearly debating with himself before seeming to come to a decision.

"While all three of you came in search of the cub sword, Alex came with a… different sword in mind"

"He wouldn't" Aurora gasped out.

"He did it with the rest of his little pack".

At those words all Aurora could do was shake her head, such relationships were extremally frowned upon in the empire.

Retainers were to be treated like family, to use such a position for one baser needs was a big scandal, she allowed herself a small smile already planning how she'll feed to rumor mill, shell need to be careful not to be to obvious about, it wont do to insult the Condakis so brazenly but there must be some kind of price extracted at him daring to bend her family.

"Ahhm" the old man broke Aurora out of her revenge planning and reminded her to refocus on the here and now there will be time for plotting later.

"As I said as a trial of allegiance crown is a must, as an imperial you will face the battle of three emperors for your test of blood, a frost troll would be a good test for fang and the maze of ten thousand visions would be perfect for someone with your oath".

"You must complete two tests, if you survive you may deign to take more there is no inherent benefit in doing so Asid form testing your mettle and showing more for the gathered spirits to judge you by for good and il".

"Choose swiftly Aurora of the Protus for your rival has already started".

Choose one test to undergo alongside the crown test (you'll get the option to pick up more later).

[] The test of blood- The White Blade proclaimed this test to be the battle of three emperor, perhaps that should have told you something but your grasp of history was never the best.

[] The test of Fang- Trolls are fierce and tough monsters with the ability to rapidly regenerate, you're not sure what difference exactly a frost troll possesses but it would be a challenge regardless

[] The test of Sight- All the White Blade said about the maze of ten thousand vision's is that it would be perfect for someone with your oath but did he mean that positively or negatively? You can't get a read on him.

A light fog of snow falls between shadowy figures, man, woman and children all here to watch the spectacle, laughing and marveling at the expensive drapes that surround her tent, their bravery emboldened by the overflowing mead as another tribunal begins.

Their faces are blank, their bodies clasped in shadow. They do not matter they aren't real so she sets them out of her mind they were never there.

Her eyes are set upon a single man, a tall lithe man from the south, possessing of blond hair and a pointed rapier strapped to his waist.

This is the dishonorable curd who slaughtered her kin, the one who ran to hide behind traditions not of his own all so her righteous retribution would be barred from her.

But he made a mistake, he has shown his face and vengeance is now within her grasp.

Above all the ruckus and the many tents of the snow pelt tribe the elders float, held aloft by incredible power, there they speak to the tribe, they speak of their failures and successes, they speak of their neighbor's lot and their enemy's downfall but the girl pays their words no heed as she confidently makes her way through the crowd.

Toward her family killer.

He doesn't recognize her; she can see it in his eyes as he turns to look upon the stranger approaching him. It is no matter, she remembers him.

She drops the giant sabretooth teeth at his feet and the crowd around her go's silent, this is noticed neighbor by neighbor until an eerie silence descends upon the gathered tribe. Even the elders return to the earth, worried looks upon their face.

It does not matter, none of them matter only he, the man still doesn't recognize her and he is clearly shaken by her actions but his actions matter little. The tooth was craved in the correct patterns and soon enough calls to make a ring bellowed within the tribe.

Not long after the elders finally reached her, their eyes widening upon gazing on the decorated tooth. A challenge has been issued, one that you could not take back, a battle to the death to settle a grievance that went unanswered for far too long.

she see it on his face, the man wasn't to run, to deny and escapeh er challenge but he cannot for if he were to do so, by tradition, he would be banished into the frozen valley.

A death sentence all on its own.

"My lady" she hears from behind her back "let me fight in your place".

Turning around she sees her ever faithful retainer three fangs Gallus, broad of shoulders, short of hair and with bulging muscles all over, he would make for a powerful combatant and would bring both glory and honor to her name.

All you need is to say so and he would leap into the ring to strike at her kin's slayer.

A few short steps behind him stand another of the girl retainers sharpened teeth Octavia, in truth she is not suited for the battle ahead and yet if leveraged right being underestimated would work to her favor. Should the girl commend her she would march forth sword in hand.

Alongside her stands her third and newest retainer the one who never was Vasilios, new as he was, she knew little of his skills and yet his transmuted flesh made him all but impervious to mortal weaponry.

The girl takes a deep breath and closes her eyes deep in thought, a fog clears and her mind is once more open. She not just any girl, she is Aurora, descended of Alexander head of the Protus family and she is in the middle of a trial.

The purpose of this trail is obvious, she must send one of her retainers they are not real to fight for her honor. She supposes that she could take the field herself but if her gauss was correct this was to be the test of crown and attempting it herself would either be a clever ploy or a great failure.

Undecided, Aurora turns her gaze onto the would-be opponent for this trial, his body is lithe and his muscles and word are obviously built for precision and speed. She sees little else, his form hidden by several shadow cutouts in the shape of people pupated about as if they were really beings.

In her soul she feels the bindings of her oath, she could call upon its might and no matter who she'll send forth they will do so armed with the knowledge of their opponent.

Time is running out; relay is the rings more the three quarters ready she must decide and quickly.

Who dos aurora sends to fight in this challenge.

[] Gallus- an expert and strong fighter, Gallus is a brut who can hit hard and get hit hard at a straight fight he is probably your best choice.

[] Octavia- although trained in the basics of combat, Octavia is not a fighter at heart. She will struggle with the opponent before you but such could lead to being underestimated which has more then once been the downfall of powerful warriors.

[] Vasilios- Aurora hasn't yet witnessed Vasilios combat capability but his legacy makes him all but immune to normal weapons. The only risk is if his enemy might be able to pierce through his flesh someway.

[] Herself- aurora is a power warrior, her body beyond all of her retainers and so she will take this takes upon herself. Of course, doing something yourself within a trial of leadership might not be the wisest call.

Additionally, would aurora use her oath to get a measure of her opponent?

[] Yes. (-1 oath charge, + whoever fights on your side will do so with advantage both mechanical and narrative).

[] No. (nothing).

----

Something, something, I hope you enjoyed. Something, something a moratorium of 4 hours.

Something something I'm going to sleep, I'll answer questions tomorrow.

I've had a little time and didn't feel like working on an actual update (the next should be for VOTA) and I've figured I'll take some time to give you respective on how rich Aurora family is.

As one of the thirty lower houses, the Protus are an important part of the empire they have various towns and dozens of villages (and hundreds of hamlets) under their rule and they are currently vowing for the control of a city, in total there are around 100k mortals living under the Portus rule and more then double that if we take into account all the retainers and vassal clans that are sworn to them.

In term of straight up power, they are likely on the weaker end but in term of just raw wealth there only like two other houses that can match them within the lower nobility.

But how much wealth do they actually have?

We'll start with the easy the Protus collect around 20K gold a year from taxes in their holdings and another 13k from taxes owed by their vassal houses and clans, although this is almost always actually paid by produce and services rather than cold hard cash (weather grain from peasants or pills for alchemy houses and so on).

Another 10-15k gold is gained from member contributions, weather that's family members who are doing missions through the sects or making money on the side, a small portion goes to the family.

Up to now this is fairly regular, all the houses gain money through taxes and member contribution to one extant or another but 40-50k gold isn't that high on that scale especially among the houses which posses a lot more land or managed to snag a stewardship of a city (which alone brings an average of 20K gold a year on average) but where some houses take up the craft of alchemy or spirit beast rearing to make extra cash.

The Protus are merchants and they do not only possess many investments in local enterprise al over the empire, to the toon of 30k gold dividends a year they also control and maintain a vast mercantile empire which beings in almost 200k gold in gross yearly profits (although on net after all the costs and tariffs they make like 80K net).

To summarize, every year the Protus family makes around 150K gold coins, just to compare the average peasant would make around 40-50 silver a year depending on how good the harvest goes.

And that amount of wealth is not low even when looking at the five great houses who average an income of around 200-300K gold a year.

So, where does it all go to?

Well, 30k is paid to the imperial family as taxes, this is high compared to the Protus peers but they get rebates and reductions in their other noble obligations so its seen positively by the family.

Around 10K gos to maintain their personal holdings, the mansions, the staff, the wards and everything else.

Another 30k is going to either expend the merchant company or to improve their fiefs in some ways (mostly infrastructure).

~50k goes in the cultivation fund to help the family members cultivate and train (this is where your personal stipend comes from) most of this goes to the older members who are more advanced in cultivation and their oaths and the aids to them start at hundreds of gold and can go up to tens of thousands.

Another 10k is paid to various retainer houses for their services (a prime example would be the ninja house) and the last 20K is put into the family vault to be drawn in times of crises, emergency or great opportunity.

The family vault (which is heavily guarded) has a few million-gold worth of gems and gold around saved for a Riney day but the gold is likely worth the least out of all the thing there.

The oath severing Katana (with can sever the oaths of those it strikes) is literarily priceless, as is the chainmail of one thousand oaths, an armor that can absorb 1000 attacks no matter how powerful or whatever oath is enhancing them and whose every link in the chain mail was oath forged over centuries (I.e someone utilized an oath for only a single act which enhanced it considerably).

In summary your family has fuck you levels of money and there are very few who can compare in term of just pure wealth.

No, she decided, only she could do it. this was her fight; this was her family killer she would have her vengeance by her hand and no other.

She stepped forward, into the circle made by the spectators' bodies and toward her family killer, his sword already drawn.

She steps forward, and Aurora finds herself back in the white void. Fully herself once more.

That was… something. The way it all but totally subsumed her personality was unsettling Aurora thought she might be able to resist it because she knew about it but it seems that was not the case.

"You choose to go yourself huh?" the voice of White Blade came from behind her. "Well, no one said you were a coward but you should learn when to let others do the work, delegate and all that. can't do everything yourself Afterall".

Aurora turned to face him, the old face of the White Blade now adorning some tattoo, three eyes upon his forehead and two on his cheeks, Aurora didn't know what they represented but it also didn't matter there was only one thing that mattered. "Did I pass?"

The white blade just sighed at her question "what is it with you imperials, why must everything be in times of success or failure?" he asked "no girl, you didn't pass, for there is no passing. Only what you show and what you don't".

Aurora forced her self to not show her irritation to his blasé answer but form the smirk on his face she knew she failed. Right, he can read her mind, Aurora let out an irritated sigh as she remembered that tidbit.

"Now, now, don't be so annoyed, tell you what" the white Blade began "we have some time before the others finish so why don't you ask me a question? I promise to answer truthfully".

Hmm… he terms it as a question to him but while the man before you is and was a true person in the past, here an now he is the representative of the collective souls of the Ermis ancestors, so in truth he offered you a question to the full collective, the knowledge of hundreds of generations.

You'll need to think about it.

[] What do you ask the white blade and the ancestor collective? (you can ask pretty much anything, from knowledge, techniques, to if they know of any hidden treasures -note, anything they do know would likely be in the north and out of your reach but could likely be given to your family- they will answer truthfully but they might not give you what you actually want).

---

"Are you sure?" Markus Aurora ask his her father.

"It's too late to back down now" the man replies "we'll have his head before sundown no matter what it takes"

"Of course, emperor" Markus Aurora said, turning his her head to gaze om the army's gathered on the field.

Almost thirty thousand cultivators stood upon the hilly terrain between the two armies, a number not seen for decades, gathered for a single battle. The imperials held the edge, eighteen thousand to the Northman elven thousands.

At the front, tall and proud, stood the metal forms of the iron oath school, soon they will march, a wall of iron and sound and fall upon their enemies like an avalanche, to the sides the riders of the swift oath school set upon their steads, their ranks showcasing plain and exotic creatures from plain horses, giant lizards and to the phoenixes their elders rode upon.

Markus Aurora rarely saw many of the colorful menagerie the Swift oath school boasted and he she truly whished the circumstance would have been different.

Behind them the dancing flames schools stood, its disciples ready to wash the battlefield with their flames. In-between them all, members of the verdant growth school were deployed ready to heal and patch up any injury taken by their brothers.

And in the gaps between the different formation, the nobles and their retinues stood, a hundred different banners flying high in the wind.

Across the field and on the opposite hills, the northerns assembled Markus Aurora did not know enough to make distinctions between their forces but even he she could recognize their famed berserkers assembling at the front, naked as they day they born and their whole body covered in tattoos.

"Well, we stared at one another long enough" Markus Aurora father gruff voice said "forward!" he shouted "chase them from our fields".

The iron oath school moved first, advancing slowly each and every step building up the vibrations in their body. Absentmindedly Markus Aurora noted the power gathering within the dancing flame formations as five large arrows of flames were formed by the combined power of hundreds of their disciples.

The result of their barrage was as impressive as it was ineffectual, large sections of the enemy army covered in bright yellow flames, consuming the land around it but by oath and technique most of the enemy army remind unburnt.

So, they did it again and again and again and with each repetition more and more northers fell consumed by flame unable to keep up their defenses. To this barrage joined the few noble retinues who possessed ranged weaponry, and soon enough the iron oath built enough vibration, enough sound which was harvested and thrown at their enemies vaporizing those who were caught unguard.

Of course, the northers were not without ranged means of their own, a multitude of projectiles flew form the opposing army, javelins and axes and great spiks of ice.

The iron oath school bore the brunt of the northerner ranged assult as they bore it well, their heavy shields stopping many a projectile in its tracks and the few which passed glancing off their iron bodies.

There were casualties, of course, disciples fell form lucky shots or enchanted weapons, most would be pathed up by the disciples of the verdant growth in their midst but not all, this was especially true within the other formation, which might have not been targeted quite as much as the iron oath also did not possess their prodigious defense.

Still, the battle clearly favored the imperials. Inflecting more causalities than they took and massively depleting the enemy defensive oaths.

This changed when the berserkers moved, their bodies lunging over the field. They fell upon the davening iron oath disciples like reappears in a harvest, only the iron oath discipline and their extreme defense stopped the formation form being shattered within the first few moments.

Within moments less the five hundred iron oath disciples remined from the two thousand strong formations as axe found iron wanting, the warth of the berserker penetrating all defenses.

Not the berserks fared much better, only a hundred remining standing of the seven hundred which strode forth.

Markus Aurora turned toward elder Severus, the only contribution of the unseen sight school and nodded.

Power gathered within the man and space shifted and withdrew the iron school disciples form the field of battle, just as the swift school charged through where they once were, slamming into the remining berserkers without mercy.

With the berserks destroyed, the swift school parted its ranks, allowing the nobles to stride forth toward the enemy position. A whole company of northerns was consumed to ash as red fire rained form the sky, the dancing flame school utilizing their oaths to attrition as much of the enemy before the two forces met.

The northerns did not wait for the imperials to reach, charging down the hill to give pitched battle, the two armies meeting in an expulsion of noise and shouts of pain.

The swift school, divide their force into two and road for the flanks hoping to charge throughout, only to be met by the berserkers which remained in reserve.

The sound of drums sounded, as the shames strengthened their tribes, countered in turn by the nobles utilizing oaths to empower their retinues.

The dancing flame sect has turned to small burst of fire, less powerful but much more precise, as the remnants of the iron oath formation reorganized an strode fourth once more, leaving their brethren to be treated the verdant growth.

More then that was hard to see, as the lines broke and the battle devolved into a brawl rather than anything organized.

Markus Aurora was confidant they were winning, the edge of numbers, knowledge and power all well on their side. Of course, none of that would matter if he she could not do her part.

"It's about time, isn't it?" Markus Aurora asked his her father.

The emperor sighed in response "it is" he simply said as he too to the sky's Markus Aurora right behind him.

High in the sky they met a single man, the white blade was unassuming in appearance, a bland face aside from his white eyes, an even blander robe fully gray with no insignia or any kind of decorations adorning it.

The only thing noteworthy about him was the long white blade he carried, the artifact emitting enough power to rival any treasure within the imperial vault, enough power to rival the crown of righteous rebuke, the masterpiece of the seventh sage of the second eye one of the greatest artificers in the history of the world.

No wonder the man managed to unite the northern tribes under him.

"Well, how nice of you to show up" the white blade voice was light, as if he had no care, he was facing two of the most dangerous cultivators this half of the world.

"Surrender" Markus Aurora called out "your army will soon be turned to dust and you have no chance to win against the both of us".

"hmm.. and bow my head to you? I think not" a moment later Markus hrried to deflect the bald coming for his head and the battel was on.

As the actors moved on the stage, the painting shifted, smudging and plunging Aurora into darkness to protect her mind from things its not yet meant to see when she came to, markus body was heavily injured.

And it was Makrus body, Aurora now fully awake and aware, across form her in the sky The white blade was similarly injured but both of their wounds did into compare to the injuries Markus father -the emperor- suffered.

He was fully missing a hand, and his body was covered in deep bleeding cuts but worst of all was the hole through his chest and the white line of frost that covered his face.

So heavy where his injuries that he fell from the sky, unable to hold himself aloft, his form frozen mid fall.

Time was frozen, as Aurora glanced around, she could not move but she could still think and knew deep in her bone that she must reach a decision on how to procced.

This is a test Afterall, the question is of what. The white bald -the one she met- called this test the battel of the three emperors, so its stands to reason that bringing the battle to its conclusion -win or lose- is the trial here.

So, what could she do?

Aurora glanced at the white blade injured form, she could decide to push forward, its risky and Markus is also injured but if he manages to kill or drive the white blade off the field the battle is as good as won.

She could also fight defensively, hold him long enough and place her trust in the army bellow to win and then support her, the white blade would have no option but to flee if such was to happen.

She could also descend and slaughter her way through the white blade army, hoping to bring it to a close sooner, the white blade would attempt to stop her, or retaliate in the same fashion, slaughtering her army.

But by the end of it, she could gather the remnants and chase the white blade off, less risk to herself but it would come at the cost of blood.

Her eyes turned to the emperor fallen form, she could also sound the retreat and rush the emperor body to best healer in the empire, a cultivator of his caliber would not die so easily to the wound he currently received, the white bald is in no position to chase them so they could quite the field with little cost. It will waste their efforts up to this point but they can always come back later, several secrets were exposed by the pitched battle and they would be better prepared for them next time.

Lastly, her eyes turn to the white blade once more, she can choose to negotiate. Both sides suffered in this fight and both are exhausted, she may be able to leverage this into some benefit for the resulting epic deal, of course the empire may end up needing to pay for it but without a decisive win, little would be gained or given in concessions for peace. Which would make this a bit of a wash as the effort and treasure invested are not recouped by the bounty of war.

All options have their benefits and risks and she must consider carefully… or do they? Does the action here actually have risk? she thought so last time but she didn't actually fight in the last test despite choosing to do so because that is not what the trial is testing, what was it that the white blade said? "It only matters what you show".

The outcomes of the actions don't matter, frankly she doubts she'll see them If its anything like last time. No, what matter is what she shows, what is she willing to risk, what is she willing to pay.

This is what the trial is meant to show.

What do's Aurora Do?

[] Push forward. (risky, chance at decisive victory or decisive defeat).

[] Fight defensively. (low risk, low chance of decisive victory).

[] Descend and slaughter. (no risk, massive causalities, low chance of decisive victory).

[] Quit the field. (defeat, low risk, medium chance the emperor survives).

[] Negotiate. (defeat, medium chance resulting peace deal is in the empire favor, medium chance its in the northerner favor, high chance the emperor survives).

---

AN: off this is a big one, I hope you enjoyed your peak into large scale battles in the setting (and the rest too), I'm going to put a moratorium of 4 hours in place to allow some discussion. As always, I'm fully available for questions (so don't hesitate to ping me.

Until next time, happy new year (well my new year was like 4~ months ago but still).