261. Chain of Command
Vesvius
The Wicked God
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Clerk Ni's mouth moves as he says something else, but I cannot hear his words. I am far too lost in my own thoughts to even attempt to comprehend whatever it is he is saying. It is as if the twisted form inflicted upon me by Tiaoyue is reaching out from within me, flooding my mind with memories of when wearing its reptilian flesh was my only choice. Trying and failing to do something as simple as get out of bed. Watching as my talon-like hand shook, fighting to hold a smudging stick. Dozens of tiny flinches as others look upon me with confusion and judgement. All those and more play out behind my eyes as I stare at Clerk Ni.
But no revulsion rises in me to meet those memories. There is no hate either, and certainly no fear. Instead, a cold, clear emptiness spreads from my stomach to the rest of my body, devouring every drop of emotion and replacing it with only clarity. I watch almost from the outside as my back straightens and breath evens out while the ice cold sensation covers me like a funeral shroud.
Daiyu touches my arm and her mouth moves soundlessly, fury steadily building on her face. I still cannot hear what she says, but I reach out and rest my hand atop hers. At her confused look, I shake my head before retreating back into my thoughts. The images of the twisted half-form vanish as I instead turn my mind towards a far more important purpose: namely, determining how to answer Clerk Ni's demand.
A small, petty part of me wants to simply obey. It would only take removing a single piece for the entire effect to shatter. The Ivory Ferryman will vanish in favor of the half-form, giving Clerk Ni exactly what he wants. Perhaps he would stare. Perhaps he would shudder. Perhaps he would slip from his saddle. Regardless, he knows not what he asks for, and giving it to him would be a petty but potent pleasure.
And then afterwards, I would have to deal with the consequences. I would have to labor through at least the rest of the day in the half-form, and no matter how much that would shake Clerk Ni it does not seem worth it. Would I have to learn to walk again? I know not, but it does not seem impossible. No, the Fractal View stays where it is.
A much louder part of my soul bellows, and if it were not for the dispassionate numbness I suspect I would heed it. It calls for anger, for rage, for fury, for me to respond to the Clerk with the same venom he spews upon us all. He dares ask me to deactivate my opus, born from the love of my Father and Clan, and take a broken form simply for his own petty squabbles and ego?! Anger the likes of which I've never felt before threatens to bubble up out of me- but fades as it enters the still waters of my mind.
No. This is no time for anger. Anger is counterproductive. Anger is a fire that would burn both the Clerk and me, possibly rising to take Daiyu and Zhuan Kun in its grasp as well. I am not blind to their own outrage. Zhuan Kun's is born from the offense leveled against his family while Daiyu's is a white hot protective rage born from her concern for me, but neither is less explosive than my own. If I give in to it, the others will follow, and only the spirits above know what will happen then.
I will… simply explain the folly of Clerk Ni's request. I will inform him of what would happen and how detrimental it would be to the mission. If afterwards, after he knows what he is asking for, he insists…
…if he insists, only then will it be time for anger.
I let out a slow, shuddering breath, and feel some small part of the numbness retreat. "You have made yourself abundantly clear, Clerk Ni," I say, my voice sounding too loud in the stillness that surrounds us. "But that is an exceedingly poor idea, and I cannot follow it."
Something dark flashes across Clerk Ni's face, something I've never seen before, and Daiyu seems to grow large in her anger as she sees it as well. But again, I rest my hand on hers, and her mouth snaps shut with an audible click. "Perhaps the problem is that your dossier on me is incomplete," I continue. "And so you may not know certain things about me. That is my fault; I should have informed you of them sooner."
I reach up and grab the Fractal View as it hangs from my neck, admiring its weight as it sits in the palm of my hand. "During my time in the Delving Heart, I suffered… let us say an unfortunate turn of events. In its aftermath, my body was left…" Twisted. Broken. Wrong. "...changed. I was left barely able to walk or even to truly function at first. It was only through long, arduous effort that I was able to reclaim some semblance of my abilities- and even now, the work is not yet complete."
The light of the Fractal View dances in my grip, casting a brilliant glare that shines even in the midday sun. "Were I anyone else, I suspect I would still be struggling to make my body my own again. But I was able to construct this charm, the Fractal View, and use it to twist the anam left within me to my own ends. If it were to be disabled, I would have no choice but to resume the form it's currently suppressing."
Diplomacy Check: 5d10s6(1.1) (An Uncomfortable Authenticity). Dice Rolled: 9, 5, 3, 3, 2. 1.1, rounded down to 1 Success!
As I speak, Clerk Ni's anger seems to fade. He takes in everything I say with a carefully schooled expression that must have been drilled into him during his training in the bureaucracy. When I finish, he considers my words for a moment before letting out a low breath. "That… I see. I had wondered as to your shifting forms, but…" he stops and shakes his head. "I should have asked about the purpose of your charms before asking you to remove them."
A ghost of a smile crosses my face and even Daiyu's expression becomes a hair less hostile. But that only lasts until Clerk Ni continues. "Nevertheless, this change is necessary for the completion of our mission. You will not be without your charm for long, though. As soon as we have finished surveying Mohei, you will be able to reactivate it."
He nods once to himself, as if happy with his 'solution'. I barely move. Perhaps I did not truly convey just how off-putting the form is, or how much it hinders my abilities. Or maybe I spoke well and Clerk Ni simply did not wish to hear it. Regardless, simply explaining matters has failed.
Now it is time for simple defiance.
"No," I say simply. "I will not be deactivating my charm at all. My apologies for any inconveniences that may cause, but I assure you that anything you think you may gain from stowing my charm will be lost by uncovering what it contains."
Clerk Ni's calm expression fractures, and a small hint of his venom rears its head once more. "Disciple Kong," he says slowly. "I do not believe I was unclear. This is not a suggestion. It is-"
"But it was," I say finally, interrupting him much to his surprise. Memories of my lectures from Sister Xiong flood my mind, her lessons and preparations for this mission coming to the forefront of my thoughts. "A suggestion, that is. After all, though we are here to guard you, Clerk Ni, we are not bound to obey your orders."
There is a moment's pause before both Daiyu and Zhuan Kun's heads snap towards me as if drawn by a lodestone. "I beg your pardon?" Daiyu asks, voice low.
I do not take my eyes from Clerk Ni. "We are here to facilitate the examination," I continue, meeting his eyes with an unblinking azure stare. "We are here to safeguard the treasure. We are here to ensure you reach every destination you mean to go to. But we are not yours to order around, Clerk. If your 'suggestions' go against our assignment, not only are we to discard them, we are duty bound to go against them."
Clerk Ni cannot respond before Zhuan Kun interrupts. "We… are not under the Clerk's command?" he asks, a light note in his voice akin to that of a child finding out that today is an unexpected holiday.
I frown and look from one of my companions to the other. "I… do not think we are?" I answer after a moment. Their confusing reaction is enough to shake my certainty and put me on the back foot. "Did your court give you differing instructions?"
Daiyu's face creases as she wracks her brain. "We were instructed to… afford His Imperial Glory's representative every courtesy," she says slowly. "And to heed his wisdom when at all possible."
"So it was suggested that you follow his orders without ever actually being told that you had to," I say, understanding dawning on me. I shrug and shake my head before returning my gaze to Clerk Ni. "I received no such suggestions."
The bureaucrat sits frozen in his pony's saddle. He may as well be a stone statue for all the emotion he shows; only the slight rise and fall of his chest would tell a passer-by that he was alive at all. After a moment he sits forward, and it seems as if he may launch into another tirade to convince us of his authority.
As he does, our gazes lock.
Relationship Change: Clerk Ni Weiyan -1! (0: Neutral!
I cannot say what he sees in my eye. But whatever it is, it gives him pause. Clerk Ni sits silently for a long moment and tension grows in his shoulders. Finally, his mouth closes with an audible click and he turns his mount, cantering away from us without another word.
He doesn't get far before we send our steeds trotting after him. As we do, my companions' horses pull up on either side of Quishu. Zhuan Kun makes no effort to keep his voice down when he says, "Your reasoning is sound. It is good that logic has won the day."
Daiyu leans over on my other side, voice pitched for my ears only. "I will admit that while following my instincts may have been enjoyable in the short term, that was quite satisfying in its own way."
A wide smile grows on her face. "Oh, and Zhi?" she murmurs. "Your kind nature and desire for everyone to get along does you credit. It is one of the things that drew us together, after all. But I have never been able to say this before, so I will say it now. Those moments where you put your foot down? They are some of my favorites."
A kiss brushes against my cheek and she cracks Sunswift's reins, sending him forward to catch up with the aggrieved bureaucrat. I can only watch her go, a too-wide smile on my face.
Drive +0.1! (Current Score: 1.2!)
On the other hand, Zhuan Kun makes no move to hasten his mount. He glances between Daiyu and I. It seems like a small, yet noticeable smirk actually sprouts on his face for half a moment. But it does not last long before he returns his gaze to Clerk Ni's retreating back. The noble's face resumes its traditional stoic mask- and he flicks his wrist.
His satchel of scrolls appears in an instant. Zhuan Kun snatches it out of the air and begins to search through it. It isn't long before he sends the bag back into his stasis ring, leaving him holding one slim volume. I only catch a brief glimpse of it before he unfurls it, hiding the title from view as he pours through its contents.
It reads Full Analysis of Examination Assignment Parameters.
***
"Are you certain?"
I bite my tongue to keep my instinctive response from bubbling up out of me. At this point, my teeth have found my tongue so many times that it is starting to become sore. But I manage to keep hold of my temper once again and instead offer a short nod. "Yes, Clerk. I am certain."
Clerk Ni considers me for a moment before pulling ahead of Quishu. He rides in silence for several minutes before shaking his head and allowing his pony to slow and fall next to the loamwalker once more. "There is no room for mistakes now, Disciple Kong. Are you certain you found no stragglers?"
It is quite incredible how annoying three simple words can become if they've been repeated enough. When we arrived at the small village of Mohei, I had no aversion to the words 'are you certain' at all, not in any combination or order whatsoever. But ever since we left Mohei behind, two of its residents ordered to report to the Delving Heart, and that one question has become the bane of my existence. Every ten minutes, the bureaucrat has found another way to ask the same question over and over again.
We left Mohei when the sun was just beginning to dip from its zenith. It is now setting over the sea.
My patience is being tested.
This time, I do not bite my tongue so much as chomp on it with the full strength of my jaw. The sting distracts me from my annoyance just the slightest amount, and I am able to force an almost sickly smile onto my face. "I am certain there none were hiding from the examination," I say, voice forcibly level. "And I am beginning to think you doubt my competence, Clerk Ni. If you are not prepared to accept my word, then I do not understand why you charged me with searching for stragglers in the first place."
Clerk Ni looks away, a bit of annoyance writ large on his own features. "Because you are well suited for it," he says, voice surly.
In truth, he is not wrong. My frequent trips to the Stallion's Garden have left my Sixth Sense considerably more developed than my companions, and it was a simple matter to turn it towards searching for those refusing the test. If moving me from the administration of the paperwork to patrolling the perimeter was the only change Clerk Ni made to our routine, I could accept it.
However, it was not. In Mohei, Clerk Ni insisted on altering our normal stations even after my refusal to serve as his guard for reasons that are beyond me. By his 'request', I searched the perimeter, Daiyu served as his guard, and Zhuan Kun administered the paperwork. After flatly denying Clerk Ni's previous orders, it hadn't seemed wise to push him again, lest his head explode from fury, and we had all silently agreed to perform the examination from unfamiliar stations.
It had all gone surprisingly without issue. Between Clerk Ni's brusque introduction and Zhuan Kun's confusion with the concept of paperwork, it had seemed destined for disaster. But as it turned out, my senses were more than able to search the village, Daiyu proved a friendly face to those nervous during their examination, and Zhuan Kun… well, I had almost forgotten that we were still well within the remit of Jingyi's Summit, and the villagers were more than happy to assist the Young Master with his duties. The result was a sheaf of well-organized documents that Clerk Ni glowered at before stuffing in his bag.
The success of his 'plan' did nothing to improve Clerk Ni's mood. But rather than focus on Zhuan Kun, his attention turned squarely to me and my failure to apprehend any possible shirkers. The fact that there were no shirkers whatsoever for me to apprehend seems to boggle his mind and clash with his understanding of the world. No matter how many times I tell him there were no hidden prospects left untested, his response is always the same.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the bureaucrat turn towards me once again. Whatever embarrassment my last answer gave him, he seems to have conquered it. "But are you well and truly certain, Disciple Kong?" he asks. "If not, there is no shame in saying so. We must be absolutely sure that all stones have been turned in pursuit of His mission-"
Whatever look grows on my face must be a sight to behold. Not only do Clerk Ni's words die upon his lips, Daiyu takes it upon herself to guide Sunswift in between Quishu and Clerk Ni's pony. She glances at me for a split second before turning to Clerk Ni. "We need to stop and set up camp soon," she says casually, acting as if they have been in the middle of a conversation for hours. "If the maps are accurate, we should be reaching a small stream within the hour. That may be the most suitable campsite for you, Clerk Ni."
Clerk Ni tries to glower at me, but no matter where he moves his head, Daiyu keeps herself interposed between the two of us. Eventually, he sighs and turns his focus to the sun above. "If we pitch camp this early, we will be wasting daylight," he says. "We will press on past the stream and find another spot further down the path."
Daiyu considers Clerk Ni's words, tapping her finger to her lips. "Of course, Clerk," she says, the very picture of respect and duty fulfilled. "We shall press on as much as we can. My only worry is that the ground after the stream gets far less even, and we will have to be more vigilant with where our mounts set their feet. Not to mention that finding another proper campsite in such surroundings while the sun is already setting may prove a challenge, and cost far more time than we would save by pressing forward."
The bureaucrat chews over her words for a moment. He does not answer her concerns directly, instead letting out a noise that could be anything from a grunt of approval to an annoyed scoff. "I will make a final decision when we reach the stream," he eventually mutters.
"Very good," Daiyu answers primly. "Whatever your decision is, we will of course abide."
In the face of Daiyu's overwhelming, if bland, respect, Clerk Ni finds himself disarmed. His temper is still boiling but he can hardly vent it on Daiyu without being utterly irrational. Zhuan Kun and I are far more appealing targets, but the former is still carefully studying his scroll without paying the Clerk any mind, and I find myself shielded by Daiyu's pleasant smile. In the end, Clerk Ni scoffs once more and pulls ahead, leaving me thankfully free of more inane questioning.
The silence seems to do him some good at the very least. When we reach the stream Daiyu spoke of, he does not insist we press on into the hilly area beyond. Instead we pitch camp, lighting our campfire as Clerk Ni set up his plush tent. Mere minutes after we've staked the mounts, he has tucked himself away in its velvet confines, cocooned in his soft fabrics and shielded from the outside world.
I watch the tent flap swing closed before turning to my companions. "If he asks me if I actually did my tasks again, I may lose my mind," I say with a sigh.
"I would very much enjoy seeing that," comes Zhuan Kun's immediate response.
"Please don't," Daiyu interjects with a sigh. She gives Zhuan Kun a chiding look as she rests a hand on my forearm. "Clerk Ni may be acting… uncouth, but we shouldn't abandon all civility towards him yet. Remember he can always find a way to become more unpleasant. He is, after all, still a member of the Imperial Bureaucracy."
Zhuan Kun casts a baleful look towards the bureaucrat's tent flap. "For now, he is," the noble mutters.
"Yes, but we are in the now," Daiyu responds. "What may happen in the future is a matter for the future. In the present, he is still a representative of His Imperial Glory, no matter how badly behaved he is. We must hold our tempers for a few weeks more. Then he will be the Jackal's problem, and we focus on much more pressing matters than a bureaucrat's pique."
I cannot help but cast a wry look at Daiyu. "I cannot help but notice that you are cautioning me to hold my temper," comes my dry answer. "That feels odd in a way I'm having trouble explaining."
Daiyu flushes and smacks lightly at my shoulder with the back of her hand. "Oh, you would prefer I let loose my temper?" she shoots back, but her lips curl into a slight smirk that belies any actual anger. "Rest assured he is still remarkably infuriating. I just find it far easier to bear when I remember that his poor behavior has already sown a harvest he is not prepared for."
I cannot argue with that. Clerk Ni's attitude towards us is one thing. His attitude towards the Zhuan Clan as a whole is quite another. And his attitude towards the Zhuan Kun after they afforded him every courtesy and hosted him within their own compound? It will be a wonder if Clerk Ni's career is merely ruined after all of this is said and done.
"Still," I answer even as I nod along with Daiyu's words. "He may face consequences in the future, but that does not make him any less insufferable right now."
Daiyu shakes her head. "Then let us dwell on it no more for the evening," she says soothingly, glancing between Zhuan Kun and I. "Let's finish setting camp. Then we've a whole night where we need not even think about Clerk Ni save for complaining about how loudly he snores."
Again, she is not wrong. I nod to her and turn my attention back to the small matters that we must attend to for a proper camp. More fuel for the fire is gathered, Sunswift and Zhuan Kun's mare are tended to, and Quishu is led slightly outside of camp so I can re-stake her with a longer tether to better allow her to forage. Water is gathered, a small snack is had, and then we've nothing left to do for the evening save guard the ungrateful Clerk.
Rather than wander away to train or practice before the game board, Zhuan Kun walks over to where Daiyu and I sit on a log near the fire. "Do we plan to further our studies of the Worldstream tonight?" he asks, the Sen's pill case in his hand.
"Perhaps," Daiyu chuckles. "But do you even need to work on it any longer? I would have thought your Technique Masters would insist on full integration the moment they saw that you had begun work on it."
Zhuan Kun nods once. "They did. However, I deemed it inefficient. There were many other flaws in my techniques and gaps in my skills that can only be addressed by their tutelage. The Worldstream can easily be trained in far less guided settings, like this one."
His words sound practiced, and might even be convincing to others. Doubtless they are the ones he used on the Technique Masters in the Summit. But the fact that he's asking at all instead of simply sitting down and taking the pills is enough for Daiyu and I to trade a look and a smile, much to the noble's confusion. "I think we can work on the Worldstream," Daiyu answers. "Zhi?"
I consider the idea. Working on the Worldstream is a priority; it has already proven quite useful with only the bare minimum of integration. Having its full power ready to be commanded can only be a good thing. But there's dozens of things I could work on, not the least of which is the Sorrowborne Guardian from the Twelve Winds auction. Secrets to a whole chamrcrafting tradition lie buried in its bones, secrets I can-
-as one, all of our heads snap up. Zhuan Kun cocks his head to the side, listening intently. Daiyu scans the surrounding shadows, a cold veil falling over her violet eyes. For my own part, I focus on my Sixth Sense, on the anam around us.
There is something out there.
I know not what it is. But there is something beyond our fire's light moving just beyond my vision.
"It is using the sounds of the stream to hide its moments," Zhuan Kun murmurs, voice low enough that we only hear it thanks to our enhanced senses.
Daiyu shakes her head- but not at Zhuan Kun's words. "They are," she stresses. "I cannot see how many there are, but there is more than one out there- many more."
I redouble my focus on the ephemeral sense behind my eyes. "They are weak," I answer softly. "I can barely detect any fluctuations in the ambient anam. Either they are so weak that any one of us could deal with them, or they can craft a veil so strong that we should be worried."
We trade looks once again. "Spirit Beasts?" Daiyu murmurs.
I shake my head. "If they were Spirit Beasts, their anam is weak enough that their instincts would rule them. They would have fled or attacked by now. Perhaps Bandits?"
"Unlikely," Zhuan Kun answers flatly. "While banditry has not yet been fully eradicated, the Summit Guard are ruthless when it is discovered. All save the most cunning have already been hunted down, and those smart enough to evade the Guard would be smart enough to give our camp a wide berth."
Those are very nice words, both Zhuan Kun's and my own. But they do nothing to change the fact that somewhere out there, beyond the circle of light cast by our campfire, something is lurking.
Something is lurking outside your camp and not coming closer. How do you deal with the threat?
[] Aggressively. If something is out there, we must root it out immediately. One of us will remain on guard while the others go out and proactively hunt the threat.
[] Curiously. If something out there is smart enough to hide from us, perhaps it is smart enough to communicate with? We will hail the interlopers and see what can be learned.
[] Defensively. If something is out there, our duty is to protect the camp. We will set a vigilant guard and keep our focus squarely on the area around us.
[] Write-In
> With refusal. Clerk Ni knows not what he asks for, and I will educate him. Even if he insists, the Fractal View will remain where it is, and I will remain far away from the testing treasure.
Clerk Ni's mouth moves as he says something else, but I cannot hear his words. I am far too lost in my own thoughts to even attempt to comprehend whatever it is he is saying. It is as if the twisted form inflicted upon me by Tiaoyue is reaching out from within me, flooding my mind with memories of when wearing its reptilian flesh was my only choice. Trying and failing to do something as simple as get out of bed. Watching as my talon-like hand shook, fighting to hold a smudging stick. Dozens of tiny flinches as others look upon me with confusion and judgement. All those and more play out behind my eyes as I stare at Clerk Ni.
But no revulsion rises in me to meet those memories. There is no hate either, and certainly no fear. Instead, a cold, clear emptiness spreads from my stomach to the rest of my body, devouring every drop of emotion and replacing it with only clarity. I watch almost from the outside as my back straightens and breath evens out while the ice cold sensation covers me like a funeral shroud.
Daiyu touches my arm and her mouth moves soundlessly, fury steadily building on her face. I still cannot hear what she says, but I reach out and rest my hand atop hers. At her confused look, I shake my head before retreating back into my thoughts. The images of the twisted half-form vanish as I instead turn my mind towards a far more important purpose: namely, determining how to answer Clerk Ni's demand.
A small, petty part of me wants to simply obey. It would only take removing a single piece for the entire effect to shatter. The Ivory Ferryman will vanish in favor of the half-form, giving Clerk Ni exactly what he wants. Perhaps he would stare. Perhaps he would shudder. Perhaps he would slip from his saddle. Regardless, he knows not what he asks for, and giving it to him would be a petty but potent pleasure.
And then afterwards, I would have to deal with the consequences. I would have to labor through at least the rest of the day in the half-form, and no matter how much that would shake Clerk Ni it does not seem worth it. Would I have to learn to walk again? I know not, but it does not seem impossible. No, the Fractal View stays where it is.
A much louder part of my soul bellows, and if it were not for the dispassionate numbness I suspect I would heed it. It calls for anger, for rage, for fury, for me to respond to the Clerk with the same venom he spews upon us all. He dares ask me to deactivate my opus, born from the love of my Father and Clan, and take a broken form simply for his own petty squabbles and ego?! Anger the likes of which I've never felt before threatens to bubble up out of me- but fades as it enters the still waters of my mind.
No. This is no time for anger. Anger is counterproductive. Anger is a fire that would burn both the Clerk and me, possibly rising to take Daiyu and Zhuan Kun in its grasp as well. I am not blind to their own outrage. Zhuan Kun's is born from the offense leveled against his family while Daiyu's is a white hot protective rage born from her concern for me, but neither is less explosive than my own. If I give in to it, the others will follow, and only the spirits above know what will happen then.
I will… simply explain the folly of Clerk Ni's request. I will inform him of what would happen and how detrimental it would be to the mission. If afterwards, after he knows what he is asking for, he insists…
…if he insists, only then will it be time for anger.
I let out a slow, shuddering breath, and feel some small part of the numbness retreat. "You have made yourself abundantly clear, Clerk Ni," I say, my voice sounding too loud in the stillness that surrounds us. "But that is an exceedingly poor idea, and I cannot follow it."
Something dark flashes across Clerk Ni's face, something I've never seen before, and Daiyu seems to grow large in her anger as she sees it as well. But again, I rest my hand on hers, and her mouth snaps shut with an audible click. "Perhaps the problem is that your dossier on me is incomplete," I continue. "And so you may not know certain things about me. That is my fault; I should have informed you of them sooner."
I reach up and grab the Fractal View as it hangs from my neck, admiring its weight as it sits in the palm of my hand. "During my time in the Delving Heart, I suffered… let us say an unfortunate turn of events. In its aftermath, my body was left…" Twisted. Broken. Wrong. "...changed. I was left barely able to walk or even to truly function at first. It was only through long, arduous effort that I was able to reclaim some semblance of my abilities- and even now, the work is not yet complete."
The light of the Fractal View dances in my grip, casting a brilliant glare that shines even in the midday sun. "Were I anyone else, I suspect I would still be struggling to make my body my own again. But I was able to construct this charm, the Fractal View, and use it to twist the anam left within me to my own ends. If it were to be disabled, I would have no choice but to resume the form it's currently suppressing."
Diplomacy Check: 5d10s6(1.1) (An Uncomfortable Authenticity). Dice Rolled: 9, 5, 3, 3, 2. 1.1, rounded down to 1 Success!
As I speak, Clerk Ni's anger seems to fade. He takes in everything I say with a carefully schooled expression that must have been drilled into him during his training in the bureaucracy. When I finish, he considers my words for a moment before letting out a low breath. "That… I see. I had wondered as to your shifting forms, but…" he stops and shakes his head. "I should have asked about the purpose of your charms before asking you to remove them."
A ghost of a smile crosses my face and even Daiyu's expression becomes a hair less hostile. But that only lasts until Clerk Ni continues. "Nevertheless, this change is necessary for the completion of our mission. You will not be without your charm for long, though. As soon as we have finished surveying Mohei, you will be able to reactivate it."
He nods once to himself, as if happy with his 'solution'. I barely move. Perhaps I did not truly convey just how off-putting the form is, or how much it hinders my abilities. Or maybe I spoke well and Clerk Ni simply did not wish to hear it. Regardless, simply explaining matters has failed.
Now it is time for simple defiance.
"No," I say simply. "I will not be deactivating my charm at all. My apologies for any inconveniences that may cause, but I assure you that anything you think you may gain from stowing my charm will be lost by uncovering what it contains."
Clerk Ni's calm expression fractures, and a small hint of his venom rears its head once more. "Disciple Kong," he says slowly. "I do not believe I was unclear. This is not a suggestion. It is-"
"But it was," I say finally, interrupting him much to his surprise. Memories of my lectures from Sister Xiong flood my mind, her lessons and preparations for this mission coming to the forefront of my thoughts. "A suggestion, that is. After all, though we are here to guard you, Clerk Ni, we are not bound to obey your orders."
There is a moment's pause before both Daiyu and Zhuan Kun's heads snap towards me as if drawn by a lodestone. "I beg your pardon?" Daiyu asks, voice low.
I do not take my eyes from Clerk Ni. "We are here to facilitate the examination," I continue, meeting his eyes with an unblinking azure stare. "We are here to safeguard the treasure. We are here to ensure you reach every destination you mean to go to. But we are not yours to order around, Clerk. If your 'suggestions' go against our assignment, not only are we to discard them, we are duty bound to go against them."
Clerk Ni cannot respond before Zhuan Kun interrupts. "We… are not under the Clerk's command?" he asks, a light note in his voice akin to that of a child finding out that today is an unexpected holiday.
I frown and look from one of my companions to the other. "I… do not think we are?" I answer after a moment. Their confusing reaction is enough to shake my certainty and put me on the back foot. "Did your court give you differing instructions?"
Daiyu's face creases as she wracks her brain. "We were instructed to… afford His Imperial Glory's representative every courtesy," she says slowly. "And to heed his wisdom when at all possible."
"So it was suggested that you follow his orders without ever actually being told that you had to," I say, understanding dawning on me. I shrug and shake my head before returning my gaze to Clerk Ni. "I received no such suggestions."
The bureaucrat sits frozen in his pony's saddle. He may as well be a stone statue for all the emotion he shows; only the slight rise and fall of his chest would tell a passer-by that he was alive at all. After a moment he sits forward, and it seems as if he may launch into another tirade to convince us of his authority.
As he does, our gazes lock.
Relationship Change: Clerk Ni Weiyan -1! (0: Neutral!
I cannot say what he sees in my eye. But whatever it is, it gives him pause. Clerk Ni sits silently for a long moment and tension grows in his shoulders. Finally, his mouth closes with an audible click and he turns his mount, cantering away from us without another word.
He doesn't get far before we send our steeds trotting after him. As we do, my companions' horses pull up on either side of Quishu. Zhuan Kun makes no effort to keep his voice down when he says, "Your reasoning is sound. It is good that logic has won the day."
Daiyu leans over on my other side, voice pitched for my ears only. "I will admit that while following my instincts may have been enjoyable in the short term, that was quite satisfying in its own way."
A wide smile grows on her face. "Oh, and Zhi?" she murmurs. "Your kind nature and desire for everyone to get along does you credit. It is one of the things that drew us together, after all. But I have never been able to say this before, so I will say it now. Those moments where you put your foot down? They are some of my favorites."
A kiss brushes against my cheek and she cracks Sunswift's reins, sending him forward to catch up with the aggrieved bureaucrat. I can only watch her go, a too-wide smile on my face.
Drive +0.1! (Current Score: 1.2!)
On the other hand, Zhuan Kun makes no move to hasten his mount. He glances between Daiyu and I. It seems like a small, yet noticeable smirk actually sprouts on his face for half a moment. But it does not last long before he returns his gaze to Clerk Ni's retreating back. The noble's face resumes its traditional stoic mask- and he flicks his wrist.
His satchel of scrolls appears in an instant. Zhuan Kun snatches it out of the air and begins to search through it. It isn't long before he sends the bag back into his stasis ring, leaving him holding one slim volume. I only catch a brief glimpse of it before he unfurls it, hiding the title from view as he pours through its contents.
It reads Full Analysis of Examination Assignment Parameters.
***
"Are you certain?"
I bite my tongue to keep my instinctive response from bubbling up out of me. At this point, my teeth have found my tongue so many times that it is starting to become sore. But I manage to keep hold of my temper once again and instead offer a short nod. "Yes, Clerk. I am certain."
Clerk Ni considers me for a moment before pulling ahead of Quishu. He rides in silence for several minutes before shaking his head and allowing his pony to slow and fall next to the loamwalker once more. "There is no room for mistakes now, Disciple Kong. Are you certain you found no stragglers?"
It is quite incredible how annoying three simple words can become if they've been repeated enough. When we arrived at the small village of Mohei, I had no aversion to the words 'are you certain' at all, not in any combination or order whatsoever. But ever since we left Mohei behind, two of its residents ordered to report to the Delving Heart, and that one question has become the bane of my existence. Every ten minutes, the bureaucrat has found another way to ask the same question over and over again.
We left Mohei when the sun was just beginning to dip from its zenith. It is now setting over the sea.
My patience is being tested.
This time, I do not bite my tongue so much as chomp on it with the full strength of my jaw. The sting distracts me from my annoyance just the slightest amount, and I am able to force an almost sickly smile onto my face. "I am certain there none were hiding from the examination," I say, voice forcibly level. "And I am beginning to think you doubt my competence, Clerk Ni. If you are not prepared to accept my word, then I do not understand why you charged me with searching for stragglers in the first place."
Clerk Ni looks away, a bit of annoyance writ large on his own features. "Because you are well suited for it," he says, voice surly.
In truth, he is not wrong. My frequent trips to the Stallion's Garden have left my Sixth Sense considerably more developed than my companions, and it was a simple matter to turn it towards searching for those refusing the test. If moving me from the administration of the paperwork to patrolling the perimeter was the only change Clerk Ni made to our routine, I could accept it.
However, it was not. In Mohei, Clerk Ni insisted on altering our normal stations even after my refusal to serve as his guard for reasons that are beyond me. By his 'request', I searched the perimeter, Daiyu served as his guard, and Zhuan Kun administered the paperwork. After flatly denying Clerk Ni's previous orders, it hadn't seemed wise to push him again, lest his head explode from fury, and we had all silently agreed to perform the examination from unfamiliar stations.
It had all gone surprisingly without issue. Between Clerk Ni's brusque introduction and Zhuan Kun's confusion with the concept of paperwork, it had seemed destined for disaster. But as it turned out, my senses were more than able to search the village, Daiyu proved a friendly face to those nervous during their examination, and Zhuan Kun… well, I had almost forgotten that we were still well within the remit of Jingyi's Summit, and the villagers were more than happy to assist the Young Master with his duties. The result was a sheaf of well-organized documents that Clerk Ni glowered at before stuffing in his bag.
The success of his 'plan' did nothing to improve Clerk Ni's mood. But rather than focus on Zhuan Kun, his attention turned squarely to me and my failure to apprehend any possible shirkers. The fact that there were no shirkers whatsoever for me to apprehend seems to boggle his mind and clash with his understanding of the world. No matter how many times I tell him there were no hidden prospects left untested, his response is always the same.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the bureaucrat turn towards me once again. Whatever embarrassment my last answer gave him, he seems to have conquered it. "But are you well and truly certain, Disciple Kong?" he asks. "If not, there is no shame in saying so. We must be absolutely sure that all stones have been turned in pursuit of His mission-"
Whatever look grows on my face must be a sight to behold. Not only do Clerk Ni's words die upon his lips, Daiyu takes it upon herself to guide Sunswift in between Quishu and Clerk Ni's pony. She glances at me for a split second before turning to Clerk Ni. "We need to stop and set up camp soon," she says casually, acting as if they have been in the middle of a conversation for hours. "If the maps are accurate, we should be reaching a small stream within the hour. That may be the most suitable campsite for you, Clerk Ni."
Clerk Ni tries to glower at me, but no matter where he moves his head, Daiyu keeps herself interposed between the two of us. Eventually, he sighs and turns his focus to the sun above. "If we pitch camp this early, we will be wasting daylight," he says. "We will press on past the stream and find another spot further down the path."
Daiyu considers Clerk Ni's words, tapping her finger to her lips. "Of course, Clerk," she says, the very picture of respect and duty fulfilled. "We shall press on as much as we can. My only worry is that the ground after the stream gets far less even, and we will have to be more vigilant with where our mounts set their feet. Not to mention that finding another proper campsite in such surroundings while the sun is already setting may prove a challenge, and cost far more time than we would save by pressing forward."
The bureaucrat chews over her words for a moment. He does not answer her concerns directly, instead letting out a noise that could be anything from a grunt of approval to an annoyed scoff. "I will make a final decision when we reach the stream," he eventually mutters.
"Very good," Daiyu answers primly. "Whatever your decision is, we will of course abide."
In the face of Daiyu's overwhelming, if bland, respect, Clerk Ni finds himself disarmed. His temper is still boiling but he can hardly vent it on Daiyu without being utterly irrational. Zhuan Kun and I are far more appealing targets, but the former is still carefully studying his scroll without paying the Clerk any mind, and I find myself shielded by Daiyu's pleasant smile. In the end, Clerk Ni scoffs once more and pulls ahead, leaving me thankfully free of more inane questioning.
The silence seems to do him some good at the very least. When we reach the stream Daiyu spoke of, he does not insist we press on into the hilly area beyond. Instead we pitch camp, lighting our campfire as Clerk Ni set up his plush tent. Mere minutes after we've staked the mounts, he has tucked himself away in its velvet confines, cocooned in his soft fabrics and shielded from the outside world.
I watch the tent flap swing closed before turning to my companions. "If he asks me if I actually did my tasks again, I may lose my mind," I say with a sigh.
"I would very much enjoy seeing that," comes Zhuan Kun's immediate response.
"Please don't," Daiyu interjects with a sigh. She gives Zhuan Kun a chiding look as she rests a hand on my forearm. "Clerk Ni may be acting… uncouth, but we shouldn't abandon all civility towards him yet. Remember he can always find a way to become more unpleasant. He is, after all, still a member of the Imperial Bureaucracy."
Zhuan Kun casts a baleful look towards the bureaucrat's tent flap. "For now, he is," the noble mutters.
"Yes, but we are in the now," Daiyu responds. "What may happen in the future is a matter for the future. In the present, he is still a representative of His Imperial Glory, no matter how badly behaved he is. We must hold our tempers for a few weeks more. Then he will be the Jackal's problem, and we focus on much more pressing matters than a bureaucrat's pique."
I cannot help but cast a wry look at Daiyu. "I cannot help but notice that you are cautioning me to hold my temper," comes my dry answer. "That feels odd in a way I'm having trouble explaining."
Daiyu flushes and smacks lightly at my shoulder with the back of her hand. "Oh, you would prefer I let loose my temper?" she shoots back, but her lips curl into a slight smirk that belies any actual anger. "Rest assured he is still remarkably infuriating. I just find it far easier to bear when I remember that his poor behavior has already sown a harvest he is not prepared for."
I cannot argue with that. Clerk Ni's attitude towards us is one thing. His attitude towards the Zhuan Clan as a whole is quite another. And his attitude towards the Zhuan Kun after they afforded him every courtesy and hosted him within their own compound? It will be a wonder if Clerk Ni's career is merely ruined after all of this is said and done.
"Still," I answer even as I nod along with Daiyu's words. "He may face consequences in the future, but that does not make him any less insufferable right now."
Daiyu shakes her head. "Then let us dwell on it no more for the evening," she says soothingly, glancing between Zhuan Kun and I. "Let's finish setting camp. Then we've a whole night where we need not even think about Clerk Ni save for complaining about how loudly he snores."
Again, she is not wrong. I nod to her and turn my attention back to the small matters that we must attend to for a proper camp. More fuel for the fire is gathered, Sunswift and Zhuan Kun's mare are tended to, and Quishu is led slightly outside of camp so I can re-stake her with a longer tether to better allow her to forage. Water is gathered, a small snack is had, and then we've nothing left to do for the evening save guard the ungrateful Clerk.
Rather than wander away to train or practice before the game board, Zhuan Kun walks over to where Daiyu and I sit on a log near the fire. "Do we plan to further our studies of the Worldstream tonight?" he asks, the Sen's pill case in his hand.
"Perhaps," Daiyu chuckles. "But do you even need to work on it any longer? I would have thought your Technique Masters would insist on full integration the moment they saw that you had begun work on it."
Zhuan Kun nods once. "They did. However, I deemed it inefficient. There were many other flaws in my techniques and gaps in my skills that can only be addressed by their tutelage. The Worldstream can easily be trained in far less guided settings, like this one."
His words sound practiced, and might even be convincing to others. Doubtless they are the ones he used on the Technique Masters in the Summit. But the fact that he's asking at all instead of simply sitting down and taking the pills is enough for Daiyu and I to trade a look and a smile, much to the noble's confusion. "I think we can work on the Worldstream," Daiyu answers. "Zhi?"
I consider the idea. Working on the Worldstream is a priority; it has already proven quite useful with only the bare minimum of integration. Having its full power ready to be commanded can only be a good thing. But there's dozens of things I could work on, not the least of which is the Sorrowborne Guardian from the Twelve Winds auction. Secrets to a whole chamrcrafting tradition lie buried in its bones, secrets I can-
-as one, all of our heads snap up. Zhuan Kun cocks his head to the side, listening intently. Daiyu scans the surrounding shadows, a cold veil falling over her violet eyes. For my own part, I focus on my Sixth Sense, on the anam around us.
There is something out there.
I know not what it is. But there is something beyond our fire's light moving just beyond my vision.
"It is using the sounds of the stream to hide its moments," Zhuan Kun murmurs, voice low enough that we only hear it thanks to our enhanced senses.
Daiyu shakes her head- but not at Zhuan Kun's words. "They are," she stresses. "I cannot see how many there are, but there is more than one out there- many more."
I redouble my focus on the ephemeral sense behind my eyes. "They are weak," I answer softly. "I can barely detect any fluctuations in the ambient anam. Either they are so weak that any one of us could deal with them, or they can craft a veil so strong that we should be worried."
We trade looks once again. "Spirit Beasts?" Daiyu murmurs.
I shake my head. "If they were Spirit Beasts, their anam is weak enough that their instincts would rule them. They would have fled or attacked by now. Perhaps Bandits?"
"Unlikely," Zhuan Kun answers flatly. "While banditry has not yet been fully eradicated, the Summit Guard are ruthless when it is discovered. All save the most cunning have already been hunted down, and those smart enough to evade the Guard would be smart enough to give our camp a wide berth."
Those are very nice words, both Zhuan Kun's and my own. But they do nothing to change the fact that somewhere out there, beyond the circle of light cast by our campfire, something is lurking.
Something is lurking outside your camp and not coming closer. How do you deal with the threat?
[] Aggressively. If something is out there, we must root it out immediately. One of us will remain on guard while the others go out and proactively hunt the threat.
[] Curiously. If something out there is smart enough to hide from us, perhaps it is smart enough to communicate with? We will hail the interlopers and see what can be learned.
[] Defensively. If something is out there, our duty is to protect the camp. We will set a vigilant guard and keep our focus squarely on the area around us.
[] Write-In