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No matter how much fun you're having, you cannot spend all of your days working with Chui Dao in the Twice-Forged Thicket. Eventually, you run out of time. You're forced to stow Chui Dao's hammer back in your belt sash, gather up your mostly complete charm, and make the long trip back to the Spire. You're not able to remain at home long either; you barely stay long enough to secret the axe pieces in your room, where Fa cannot stumble across them.
Once the head of ice and steel is safely stowed beneath your writing desk, you're out the door once more. Your destination: the Warren. It is around the time that you normally visit Caretaker Headquarters, and no one has told you to do otherwise this week. Still, taking the now familiar path fills you with trepidation.
The last time you visited the Warren, it was with
news. And as a direct result of that news, you received great praise, promises of great reward, and the most matter-of-fact threats upon your existence you may ever receive, all from your Master. After all that… honestly you are glad that your stomach is in your throat when you climb the stairs to the Warren's entrance hall.
After all, if it were not… well, that would mean you have taken leave of every single sense you have ever been fortunate enough to possess.
But to your relief- and mild disappointment- you are not greeted in the entrance hall by Elder Siani. Your Master is nowhere to be found. Instead, the first face you see when roaming through the Warren is Sister Xiong.
Your senior greets you with a nod. "Your promptness does you credit, Kong Zhi. Now come along. We've much to cover and a very short period of time in which to do so." Without another word she turns, heading down one of the Warren's impossibly long halls, clearly expecting you to follow.
You stare blankly at her back for a very long moment, feet rooted in place. "Excuse me, Sister Xiong?" you ask quietly. She stops and turns, raising an eyebrow at you in a gesture that would normally cause your instincts to demand you prostrate yourself before her. When they do no such thing, you take a breath to luxuriate in the knowledge that the side-effects from your brief exposure to her Royalty have worn off before continuing. "My apologies, but I thought that I would be seeing Elder Siani today."
"What gave you that impression?" she responds. Sister Xiong doesn't give you a chance to answer before she turns again and marches on, forcing you to jog in her wake.
"When last we spoke, he… um…" you say. "He suggested that I may receive lessons of his own devising and perhaps…"
You trail off, wondering how to politely phrase 'I was told I would be rewarded for my diligence' without it coming across as boasting or demanding. Thankfully, Sister Xiong saves you from that particular set of mental contortions by snorting out a laugh. "I know precisely what you were told, Kong Zhi," she states. "And have no fear. You will be rewarded for the services you have provided."
Sister Xiong pushes a door open and gestures for you to go through it first. As you do, she states, "Your reward will be threefold. The first part will indeed be lessons from the Master himself. That will have to wait, however. He is… currently indisposed."
You can only blink at that news. "Oh?" you ask. "I was unaware that his… exertions had wounded him to such an extent."
"They did not," comes the cryptic answer. Sister Xiong allows the door to swing closed behind you and moves forward, leading the way into a larger hall and very determinedly not clarifying her point at all. Instead, she continues. "The second part will be something of a more tangible nature. I shall give that to you myself at the conclusion of training today."
"...I see," you state, still wondering about what could possibly render Elder Siani 'indisposed'. If it wasn't his battle against the thing in the dark tunnel, what could it be? Perhaps he is just on an assignment. Though if that's the case, why did Sister Xiong not simply state that?
Whatever the case may be, puzzling over it will not bring you any closer to the correct answer. Besides, what Sister Xiong has just said demands a response. You bow your head and say, "You have my utmost thanks for your assistance, Sister Xiong. I imagine that whatever Elder Siani has selected for me is a prize beyond compare."
Sister Xiong nods once, accepting your thanks. "You will find it most useful, I am sure," she responds. After that it appears she has nothing more to say, lapsing into silence as she continues to lead you further and further into the Warren.
It has not escaped your attention that Sister Xiong said that your reward was threefold, yet has only mentioned two parts. You open your mouth to comment on it, but find yourself snapping it shut as soon as it has opened. It would be rude to ask about the third, unspoken part directly. So instead you ask another question. "You are conducting my training today, Sister Xiong?"
"I am," comes the quick answer. "The others have done a competent job of teaching you how we conduct ourselves within the Eighth Court. Normally, that would be the extent of your formal training. From this point on, the Master's preferred teaching method is experience; you would usually be left to find your own way during the course of your assignments."
"Usually?" you parrot. "Is there something different in my case?"
"I can see that no moss grows twixt
your toes, Kong Zhi," comes Sister Xiong's response. "Yes, your learning process is going to be accelerated because of the third part of the Master's reward."
She sighs and shakes her head, a mote of disapproval breaking through her regal bearing. "I think it is far too soon to even hint at such things, but when the Master makes up his mind…" Sister Xiong sighs, clearly despairing at the mere thought of ever changing Elder Siani's thoughts on a subject. "My thoughts are immaterial."
Sister Xiong stops and fixes you with a firm look. "Kong Zhi, when Elder Siani believes you are prepared, you will be raised to the Seventh Circle."
Her words are enough for your feet to collide with each other. You stumble forward, almost landing face first on the stone floor. Only your combat training saves you from such a fate. Instead of tasting the earth, you roll forward, tumbling down and then back to your feet once more. Were your thoughts not preoccupied, you may have paused to admire your own recovery.
But no, there's no time for that. Your thoughts are
very much occupied. "The Seventh, Sister?" you almost gasp. "But I… I've barely been promoted to the Eighth!"
"Indeed," comes the displeased response. "But the Master seems positively thrilled at the idea of promoting you again so quickly. I believe his exact words were…"
Sister Xiong frowns, her gaze distant as a conversation you were not privy to plays out in her memories. "'....Kong Zhi has provided such exemplary service,'" she repeats "'We would be doing the Heart a great disservice if we did not give him the opportunity to perform more of the same.'"
"Oh," you numbly repeat. When Sister Xiong puts it like that… honestly, it does not sound like much of a reward. It sounds like Elder Siani just wants to see what kind of things you'll do if he tosses you up to the next circle.
Wait. Why does that surprise you? It's
Elder Siani.
"But that is in the future," Sister Xiong continues. "You will not be promoted to the Seventh until I am convinced that you won't be dropped right back into the Eighth. So until you are well and truly ready for the rigors of the Seventh Circle, we will be preparing you for your promotion."
The tone of her voice makes your heart sink down until it reaches somewhere near your stomach. "I… see. If I may ask, what deficiencies will the honored Sister aid me in overcoming?"
You are already well on your way to reaching Elder Siani's stated goal of becoming a Proper Soldier, so it cannot be that. Your crafting is well beyond anything you've seen from your peers at the Heart, and you doubt even a Sage could find too much fault in them. You suppose it might be your martial skills but you highly doubt that it is; were those what are in question, you cannot see Sister Xiong handling it herself. She would more likely just toss you in Jetei's direction.
Is… is it your mental fortitude? Is Sister Xiong going to force you to withstand your aura? Ancestors above, you hope it isn't that. You
just stopped getting the urge to kowtow to her everytime she walks into a room!
Sister Xiong very pointedly does not answer your question. Your heart leaves your stomach behind and settles down somewhere near your toes.
As your mind races, the two of you reach what appears to be your destination. Sister Xiong turns and opens a door in the side of the impossibly long hall, gesturing at you to lead the way. You do so with trepidation in every step, dread lurking in your mind as you make your way into what will surely be another hellish area of pain and misery.
But as the door behind you swings shut, you can only stop and stare at the room around you.
The room… it is
normal. It is a wooden hall the size of your courtyard at the spire, unremarkable in any way. Small writing desks fill the room with a larger one at the front. Set in the wall behind the front desk is a heavy stone slab just waiting to be filled.
Air races from your lungs as you let out an enormous sigh of relief. It's a
classroom. Whatever Sister Xiong is going to be teaching you, it is
academic. Lectures are not your favored method of learning, but compared to whatever else the Caretakers could inflict on you, you will accept it in a heartbeat.
Sister Xiong moves past you, gesturing at one of the writing desks while she takes her place at the front of the room. You slide into the indicated seat as she says, "You are well on your way to becoming a well-rounded Artist, Kong Zhi. Your pillars are in place and while your technique library is lacking, that can be easily overcome. What is far more difficult to remedy is your lack of
knowledge. More specifically, your lack of knowledge about the world around us."
"Seventh Circle Disciples are not given the luxury of lazing about the Heart," she continues. "While an Eighth Circle Disciple may find that their responsibilities only rarely take them from our halls, a Seventh Circle Disciple must be ready to travel the width and breadth of the Empire to complete their tasks. They are given no simple assignments either."
Sister Xiong shakes her head. "You will not be refilling lanterns or exterminating snakes as a Seventh Circle Disciple; such things are for those who have not proven themselves. No, as a Seventh Circle Caretaker, you will be taking our remit far and wide, searching out the threats that could threaten the Heart before they become true problems and dealing with them."
"But you will not be alone," she states. "Though you will likely be one of the only Artists
we send to deal with a situation, you will be far from the only Artist present. The other sects of the Empire have their own courts that deal with similar matters. When you reach the Seventh Circle, it will only be a matter of time until you come into regular contact with representatives from the others. When that time comes, you
will be prepared."
Sister Xiong leans back on her desk, fixing you with an amethyst gaze. "Today, we will begin your further education," she states. "And we will begin it with the other six Stars of the Empire. By the time you leave these walls today, you will be able to recite anything that I wish to know about the other imperial sects on command."
You nod along with her words even as a light frown crosses your lips. Sister Xiong knows best, of course, but you cannot help but feel that there are half a dozen other things you should learn first. More immediate things… like common types of Spirit Beasts and how to best slay them, or how to deal with surprisingly docile Kukuni or-
Your train of thought is cut off as Sister Xiong's gaze grows in intensity. "Kong Zhi," she states, finality firm in her voice. "We do not know when Elder Siani will decide that you are 'ready'. It could be in six months, it could be in the next five minutes. When that happens, you will be wandering far and wide with our sect's name on your shoulders. I
will not have you shame us before the other sects, and I
will not allow you to hide behind the shield of ignorance should you pull us into a blood feud. Is that understood?"
There is exactly one proper response here. You nod vigorously at Sister Xiong's words. "Of course, Sister!" you almost bellow. "I am an empty vessel simply waiting to be filled with your teachings."
Sister Xiong nods. "That is what I thought," she states. "Now, let us begin with...."
She trails off, reaching down towards her belt sash with a look of mild displeasure on her face. Whatever she hopes to find there, she fails to discover. "One moment, Kong Zhi," she states. "I seem to have misplaced my chalk. Or…" Sister Xiong trails off, thoughts flashing across her face too quickly for you to recognize them.
When they clear, a fond smile is on her face. "Ah, of course," she states. Sister Xiong raises her hands, clapping them together softly. "Songlu!" she calls. "Did you take my chalk?"
Behind you, the door swings open. You turn your head just in time to see a miniscule shape trotting across the floor, moving so quickly that your naked eye cannot recognize it. It stops at the front of the room, dropping down on it's hindquarters at Sister Xiong's feet.
Once it stops moving, you are able to get a clear glimpse of it- though you are not certain you can believe what you are seeing.
Is… is that the
pig?
It takes a moment of google-eyed staring for it to sink into your brain, but after a moment you are forced to come to grips with the thought that your eyes are not lying to you. That is indeed the Spirit Pig you enlisted in your trip to the deeps sitting at Sister Xiong's feet, staring up at her with adoring worship.
Though now that you recognize the pig, changes to its appearance stand out to you like beacons. It's coarse hair is gone, revealing smooth, pink skin. It's large tusks have shrunk until they are a fraction of their former size. But the biggest change is in the creature's entire stature. Before, when you stood near it, the pig was up to your waist. But now, you would be shocked if it came up to your knee.
What
happened to it?
Sister Xiong notices the look on your face and nods in your direction. "Kong Zhi," she states. "I would like to formally introduce you to our newest friend, Songlu. After recent events, it was determined that we should make ourselves known to him, and so I have taken him under my wing."
Then her focus returns to the pig- Songlu, she called it. "Though I would have done so instantly, without any prompting, had I known just how
cute you are!" Sister Xiong coos. "You are such a handsome lad, aren't you? Aren't you?"
From the besotted look on Songlu's face, you get the sense that he does not mind such treatment at all. Though it's contented expression vanishes as Sister Xiong continues, "But that does not excuse you stealing my chalk. You
did take my chalk, did you not?"
Songlu's gaze turns to the ground and it produces a thick white stick from seemingly nowhere. "Yes sorry sorry, Mistress," it says mournfully. "Songlu very sorry yes. Only wanted spend more time near Mistress."
Hearts practically appear in Sister Xiong's eyes. "Oh, Songlu," she sighs. "You did not have to behave in such a manner for that! All you had to do was ask! You are alway welcome at my side- in fact, I think this lesson will be greatly served by your assistance. Would you like to draw on the slate for me?"
By Songlu's expression, you would think it is looking at the sun rising over the horizon. "Yes yes, Mistress! Songlu best draw helper!" It scurries away, sprinting behind her and taking up a position on top of the desk, just waiting to spring at the slate.
You cannot take your eyes from the beast. "Sister Xiong?" you ask faintly. "What… happened to it?"
The smile on Sister Xiong's face doesn't waver in the least. "Nothing intrusive or unwanted by my new friend, Kong Zhi," she states, reaching out and patting Songlu on the head. The pig preens and presses up against her palm, searching for more affection. "Songlu was a touch coarse and unrefined before, certainly. But it was nothing my anam could not fix."
...well. The implications of
that statement are terrifying.
Perhaps you got off easily by only having to think about worshipping Sister Xiong for a few weeks.
"But that is unimportant," Sister Xiong states, clapping her hands to draw your focus away from the pig. "If you wish to spend time with Songlu later, that is your business. For now, it is time for your lessons. Tell me, Kong Zhi, what do you know about the sects of the Radiant Empire?"
You wrench your mind away from the pig's fate. There will be time to contemplate what exactly has happened here later. For now, you had best answer Sister Xiong's questions. "I know that there are seven of them," you begin. "Each with their own specialty and focus."
"A good start," Sister Xiong responds with a nod. "Can you name them all?"
You wrack your brain for the requested information. "I… suspect not," you answer honestly. "But I know some of them."
Sister Xiong beckons for you to continue, and so you do. "First of all is the Delving Heart, of course," you begin, feeling a bit foolish naming the sect you are physically within. But still, she asked about all seven, so you may as well begin with the low-hanging fruit.
"Of course," your senior acknowledges, gesturing at the slate behind her. Songlu leaps into action at her motion, scratching wildly at the stone with it's chalk. When the dust clears, a simple set of nine lines identical to your Sigil sits proudly on the board. "First and greatest among the sects, the Delving Heart has produced some of the greatest Artists of the past thousand years. No less than three Emperors have come through our halls, and our history of great deeds speaks for itself. Beyond that, we at the Heart specialize in Earth Anam- something you should remember when you search for your next techniques."
You nod in acceptance at the pointed suggestion before continuing. "Beyond the Heart, my Mother was a disciple in the Rose Triumphant and Father at the Breath Undying."
"An interesting pairing," comes Sister Xiong's response. "Considering the history between the Rose and the Breath." She gestures at the board and Songlu leaps into the air once more. When it descends this time, a pair of symbols have joined the Heart's Sigil. The Breath's icon is made up of six lines, each curving in upon themselves to form an enormous cloud. The Rose, by contrast, is a simple flower standing on it's own.
"The Rose Triumphant is the youngest sect in the Empire, no matter what they claim," Sister Xiong continues. "Their mastery is over Light Anam, and should you be forced to combat one, trusting your eyes will be a mistake. Beyond their skills with Light, they excel in the gentle arts. Artists trained by the Rose often find their place at court as diplomats or messengers."
Your senior shakes her head as she moves on. "On the exact opposite end of things, we have the Breath Undying. Perhaps the oldest sect in the Empire, the Breath Undying does naught but train Artists for battle. From the moment they arrive in the Cloudforge Plateau, disciples of the Breath learn self-sufficiency, Wind Anam, and violence. They are far less formal about their processes than the Heart. Their induction process is rumored to be simply dropping their new disciples on the Plateau and seeing who is still there a month later."
A vision dances before your eyes. You can almost see a young Father being thrown into ankle-length grass and told 'Good luck! Best Wishes!' before being thrown a knife and a waterskin. What was his training like?
"That makes three, Kong Zhi," Sister Xiong states, interrupting your thoughts. "There are four remaining."
You nod, thinking of your other family members as you do. Who else went to a different sect? Before coming to Harmony, your ancestral home was Soaring Crow, along the eastern border of the Empire. As such, most Kongs before your generation were members of the Breath Undying. But there has to have been others who went elsewhere-
-ah, of course. "The Cerulean Summer," you finally answer. "My elder cousin is a disciple there."
Songlu doesn't need to be told to act this time. It simply does, sketching four curling lines splitting around a circle to form the icon of the Summer. As he does, Xiong Eryu continues her lecture. "Another older sect, the Cerulean Summer are the wardens of the South. It is they that keep watch over the Laughingstar Sea and the thousands of pirates who hide within. They, as you may assume, have a way with Water Anam, and are known for housing a thousand scholars. The Summer has entire halls dedicated to Seated intellectuals who come from far and wide to debate the nature of this realm. It would behoove you to study the philosophers should a confrontation with the Summer be likely; that way, you can distract them with the words of Kun Uwe. Ask them to contemplate a pebble; you might be surprised how well it works."
You almost laugh, but Sister Xiong seems
very serious. You make a note to find out what she's talking about later and continue. "I… those are the only ones I am familiar with- wait, no. His Imperial Glory was an Artist from the Whispering Jackal. Mother made sure to have me memorize that one."
Sense Motive Check: 4d10s7(1.0). Dice Rolled: 10, 7, 7, 3, 6. 3 Successes!
A sudden emotion flashes across Sister Xiong's face. Whatever it is, you do not get the chance to identify it. By the time you realize that she even had a reaction to your words, her normal mask of regal neutrality has taken its place on her face once more.
When she speaks, it's with the same detached tone she's been using this entire time. "Of course. The Whispering Jackal."
Songlu is in the air, a cloud of chalk surrounding it. The four icons on the slate are joined by a fifth, this one a paw print from a beast with six claws. "As you may guess, the Wandering Jackal is home to the greatest number of Beast Artists in the Empire. It goes further than that, though. They also boast an enormous number of ascended Spirit Beasts, most of whom make up their upper ranks. One may think that this would grant them an unmatched savagery, but that could not be further from the truth. Artists born from the Jackal are known for their supreme discipline and cool heads in conflicts. Should you be at war, be grateful that the Jackal is on your side; the cunning and quick-thinking born from the Jackal's tutelage have preserved the sanctity of the Empire more times than can be counted."
SIster Xiong lapes back into silence, waiting for you to prompt her again. This time though, you truly are bereft of knowledge. Those were the only five you knew. She does not chastise you, however. Instead she gestures at Songlu and begins to speak as he scribbles the final two icons.
"That leaves us with the Resolute March and Nighwatch Grove. Again, we could not have two more different sects. The Grove seldom leaves the Forest of Seasons. The March never remains in one place for more than a month. The Grove have only proved victorious in the Tournament of Seven Stars thrice in their history. The March won that many events last year alone. The Grove could not care less for the goings on of the greater world. The March cares for little besides current events."
The final two icons quickly reveal themselves as a pair of crossed spears and a series of triangles, clearly representing a copse of trees. "The March is known for Fire Anam, which they rain down upon the Emperor's enemies to great effect. The Grove specializes in Blood, and has produced monsters and healers in equal measure since their founding. Neither are to be taken lightly."
Songlu moves back to Sister Xiong's side, and your senior drops a hand down on her porcine pet's skull. "These seven sects make up the pillars that make the Radiant Empire what it is today. They
are the Radiant Empire.
We are the Radiant Empire. No other nation has such a broad variety of Artists. No other nation trains and treats their Artists so well. To know the sects is to know the Empire."
"But while each sect is a proud part of a greater whole, each has its own needs. Each has its own specialties. Each is governed by a web of debts and honor that stretches back for time immemorial. It is this web that you need to learn should you wish to uphold the pride of the Heart, or at the very least not embarrass us before our peers."
What follows, after that introduction to the sects, is Sister Xiong doing her absolute best to cram ten thousand years of history between your ears. Facts and stories combine with legends and fables, each a thread in the complex tapestry that is the relationship between the seven sects.
The Delving Heart and Breath Undying currently have a very friendly rivalry- though it was not always so friendly. Apparently there was an event fifty years ago that turned things to the better. What was once a blood feud is now a sporting competition between equals. Their burgeoning respect is helped along by the disdain that both have for Nightwatch Grove, who have yet to truly prove themselves as one of the Great Sects.
Nightwatch Grove, for its part, is none too fond of the Heart either, but their disdain is nothing compared to the feelings the Resolute March has towards your sect. There was some kind of incident four hundred years ago that Sister Xiong does not expound upon, simply explaining that a disciple of the Delving Heart should be wary of friendly fire in the March's territory. The Delving Heart, however, is not the sole focus of the March's hatred. It seems they also have a certain level of animus towards the Rose and the Jackal, though they would never dare act on the latter as long as His Imperial Glory sits in the Dawnstone Seat.
Along with being skilled warriors, the Breath produces a great number of surprisingly talented architects. It seems their disciples must form their own housing before they can continue with their training, and many of them continue practicing their skills once that training is deemed complete. They have a good relationship with most other sects save the Grove, but they are especially close with the Summer, who has been calling on their expertise with great regularity over the past few years.
Sister Xiong is not sure why the Summer has such a need for architects, but she suspects the purpose would baffle any who learned of it. Such is the way of the Summer.
On and on it goes. Feuds, famous battles, the results of the yearly tournament between the Sects… all of it and more is packed into your brain until you feel like you are thinking through a thick layer of disjointed facts.
Skill Up! Knowledge (History) +1, Knowledge (Cultivation) +1!
By the end of it, you aren't certain that whatever Sister Xiong is saying is even composed of words anymore. Still, you repeat everything she says back to you, dutifully memorizing each scrap of sound that falls from her lips.
Eventually, she takes pity on you. "I think that will do nicely for a primer," she states. "You've done adequately to keep up for this long. Remember all that you have learned today. You will be tested on what you retain."
You try to mumble something that sounds affirmative, but it feels like if you really open your mouth, half of what you just learned will spill out. So you content yourself with a slow nod; that way, the knowledge only gets mildly disturbed.
"Now, you have been patient long enough," Sister Xiong continues. "Here."
Something glints in the air and you reach out, snatching a small circle of metal before it collides with your face. You hold it up to the light and inspect it. In your hand sits a strange looking ring. It looks as if the smith forging it was attempting to make five rings at once and then twisted them all together, forming a circle of multicolored metal. "What's this?" you ask.
"That," Sister Xiong answers. "Is the Wandering Estate, and it is part of your reward."
That's enough to jar you out of your near-coma. You stare down at the ring with new eyes, allowing your Sixth Sense to open and reach out to the ring. You find wood and metal twining together in the metal, but they are far from the only aspects. There's hints of steel, of life, of fire… no, not Fire. It is far too comforting to be simple Fire Anam. What could that…?
You are broken from your reverie as Sister Xiong begins to explain. "Master thought that you would benefit greatly from a spatial ring, and he went to no small trouble to procure you the best one he could find. The Wandering Estate is no simple storage, though. It has a variety of uses."
"First," Sister Xiong states. "You can use it as an ordinary spatial ring. When you have it on, you may store anything you can carry inside of it by touching it to the ring and activating it. Items can be reclaimed just as easily by picturing what you wish to retrieve and exercising your anam. The Estate can hold no more than one thousand pounds of materials in this fashion, so choose what you wish to store wisely."
One thousand pounds… is a light limit? How much do Artists keep in these things?!
Sister Xiong continues, not letting you get a word in edgewise. "Alternatively, the Wandering Estate can summon it's own secondary storage space should you wish to stow away larger items. Put it on, cycle to it, and flick your wrist."
You do as bid, allowing your anam to flood the ring while twisting your wrist as if you were attempting to dry your hands. The ring seems to spin in place, projecting a small hole in reality in front of you. The hole grows and widens until it is as tall as you are and twice as wide.
"While this space is open, you may enter the Estate and peruse anything you have stored here. You may also retrieve and store larger items that you could not carry on your own. This facet of the Estate creates a space thirty feet wide, sixty feet long, and twenty feet tall. You may fill it with whatever you wish."
"Now, finally, the third facet. Cycle to the ring and, at the same time, spin it with your thumb.
Again, you do as bid- and this time, the ring shoots from your finger, smacking into the wall of the classroom like an arrow. The hole in reality forms once again, but this time when it grows, it reveals a simple wooden door against the formerly featureless wall. At Sister Xiong's urging, you move forward and pull the door open.
You were not certain what you expected to see, but it most definitely was not a small manor house sitting on a field of grass. But that is exactly what you see. A pleasant looking dwelling, one that would not look out of the ordinary on the streets of Harmony, is there to greet you, lit by sourceless sunlight. A breeze that smells of the forest and the waters wafts from the door, blowing your hair back and filling your mind with memories of time spent relaxing during a quiet day.
"Finally," Sister Xiong explains. "By activating the third facet, you bring the Estate fully into this realm. Here, you have a safe space in which you can relax and recover from your labors. Anything you store within the ring will be transported to the house and will return there should you bring it out and store it again once more."
You stare blankly at the house- at the
home- in front of you. "How long does it last?" you ask numbly.
"As long as you need it to," comes the answer. "Though be wary. The Estate can exist for months at a time should you wish it, but when you close the third facet once more, you will be unable to resummon it for as long as you had it open. Spend a week in luxury? You must then go a week without."
All you can do is nod. You turn away from the house and close the door, idly watching as the doorknob shifts and twists beneath your fingers until it is the ring once more. When you pull your hand away, it is as if the door to that peaceful place never existed. "This… this is a princely reward," you murmur.
"You performed a princely service," Sister Xiong says, Songlu nodding along even though it clearly has no idea what it's mistress is talking about. "So you should be paid as such."
Still, you shake your head in mute disbelief. "The amount of time, effort,
power that went into the creation of something like this… I can scarcely fathom it."
Sister Xiong nods along with your words. "Neither can I," she muses. "In truth, none of us know who created the Wandering Estate. Whoever it was must have been a savant with spatial charms. Use it well, lest I try to claim it for myself."
Her words are teasing, but you barely notice them. Instead you fixate on the first part of her statement. "Wait, you do not know who made it?"
"We haven't the faintest clue," Sister Xiong admits. "But that is to be expected. We do not know the source of a great number of the treasures in the Warren. Most have been within these walls for generations. But the creators should be proud. Even if they have been forgotten, their creations live on."
"I… I apologize, but I am confused," you state. "There are treasures within the Warren that were not placed here by Elder Siani?"
"Many," comes the easy answer. "Hundreds. Thousands. In truth, we suspect the Warren was the first building built when the Sect was new. It has collected many such artifacts over that time, as well as a mind of it's own. That's why you must be cautious with the lower levels. Should you venture too deep, the Warren will take note of you and… test your mettle."
You just
stare at Sister Xiong.
The Warren… the headquarters of the Caretakers… has mysteries and treasures locked away in it's lower levels… and you will only find them if you pass tests set by the Warren itself.
Why did no one tell you this earlier?!
Twenty minutes later, you have left Sister Xiong's classroom far behind. You venture down the spiraling staircase in the center of the Warren, taking it as far down as you can go. The stairs fly by beneath your feet and you almost fall, but your grip on the railing keeps you steady.
You do not know how many flights of stairs you've descended before you run out of them. But eventually, there are no more stairs to descend. You make it to the very last floor-
And find yourself facing three doors.
The first is a simple wooden one, a single gemstone eye decorating the center. The second is made of stone, musical notes inscribed along the top. The third appears to be formed of some kind of red metal, and when you move close to it, it feels hot to the touch.
This… is the building testing you? Is this what Sister Xiong was talking about? Do you have to select the right door for the Warren to grant you a boon? Or does each door contain a test of its own and you are just picking which one you want to take?
...you have no idea. But one thing is clear: if you want to explore the Warren, you must venture through one of these three doors.
Which door do you go through?
[] The wooden door adorned with an eye.
[] The stone door inscribed with musical notes.
[] The metal door that is hot to the touch.