Age of Heroes

EAST FORTRESS

At the fortress Xiyun relayed the intention of the schools and sects, telling Arial all of the details. 

She is detailing the benefits and possible plots that may be hidden in this reconciliation effort. After all, Xiyun is a cautious person.

She learned all about being cautious when living under her parent's murderer

Arial listen and then asked

'So, they want to reconcile. I at least expected this. A wise move…. or is it an expected outcome?' Arial said to himself. Xiyun is standing waiting for her teacher verdict. 

'Will you accept teacher?' she asked. Arial smiles and he nodded

'Of course. Why wouldn't I want to reconcile the differences between our sect and the schools?' 

'I thought you were angry at them.' She said. Arial laughs a bit and then said

'Yes, I am. But there is no need to be so stubborn in term of human relationship. After all my enemies is not the rest of the school but Ermeishan. And from what you tell me Ermeishan will not attend. Doesn't that mean we are killing two birds with one stone?' he said and he chuckles

It is clear Arial is in a happy mood

'What do you mean teacher?' Xiyun asked

'We will not only improve our relationship with the other school but also isolate Ermeishan. This will surely make them incensed with anger. Isolating themselves is a most unwise decision'

He chuckles again and then with a happy tone he ordered Xiyun

'Xiyun tomorrow send letters to the other schools asking them to come to our fortress. Tell them I invited them for light snacks and drinking. Get some high quality wine' 

'Wine? Where will I get the wine?' she asks

'Buy wine from the evil sect. They must have many. And since they are not participating and they themselves did not ask to visit we can buy their wine.' 

'Yes teacher.... but the money.' She asks hesitantly. Arial laughed again. 

Arial then went into one of the rooms and then when he went outside he tossed a pouch to Xiyun. 

'That pouch has about a hundred gold. Buy every wine you could fetch with it.' Xiyun could not believe it. 

Not only her teacher is strong he is also very rich. She is astounded by the fact that her teacher brought this much gold to the meet. 

If anyone know he brought such a large amount of gold, maybe he would be attacked during everybody thought he was weak. 

But to Arial, a hundred gold, in the scheme of his wealth is nothing. Then he added

'And when you're back, hunt some rabbit in the forest. You can do it now right?' 

'Yes,' she replied confidently

'Good. At least now I don't have to do it myself. Xiyun pouted a bit and then she said

'Teacher. Did you create the test so that you don't have to catch the rabbit by yourself?' Arial chuckles and then he said

'Well. maybe it is one of the reason' Xiyun puffed up her cheeks and Arial laughed.

'I want some compensation;' she said and then Arial said.

'Take the rest of the gold as compensation after you finished buying the wine' Then Xiyun face expression immediately change like she did not sulk before 

She was grinning from ear to ear and Arial just chuckle at Xiyun act

'Then it is settled.' Grinning Xiyun went outside the fortress and began following her teacher orders.

Arial shakes his head and said to himself

'What a peculiar disciple. Though when I think about it I am a very peculiar teacher too'

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THE DAY OF THE FEAST

'Food to eat and games to play.

Tell me why, tell me why.

Serve it out and eat it up. Have a try, have a try.'

Some people are singing in loud voices as they enjoy their foods and drink. There is great ruckus in the great hall as hundreds of disciple from all the major sect is inside the East fortress. 

The disciple is enjoying the roasted rabbit and the wine, and the rum. The elders on the other hand is sitting among the long table while their disciple stands beside them. 

Only Arial disciple did not stand beside her teacher. Instead, she sat beside her teacher and eating like any other people.

But maybe because she is affected by the fact that her teacher is noble, she eats with grace.

She did not eat too fast; neither does she eats to slow. She takes small bites and there is smoothness and graceful flow in her movement of her hand when taking her food.

But to the disciples and elders of these martial arts school, sitting beside her teacher instead of standing, is very rude in their conduct of manner. But they do not dare told her off considering even her teacher did not say anything.

'Congratulation, lord Arial for winning the meet' some of the congratulated him

'Winning? I do not even fight the Yilin Temple yet. It is not wise to count your chicken before the eggs even hatched.' Arial reply while laughing. 

The other sect leader looks at the elders of Yilin Temple, giving him a look, and then the Elder of Yilin temple got up from his seat cupped his hand, and with difficulty he said 

"We, Yilin understand the disparity of power between noble lord and our disciple. Why would we offend Lord Arial just because of martial arts competition? We, Yilin will pull out from the competition tomorrow. We hope that with this gesture Lord Arial will not make life difficult for our disciple.' 

Arial nodded slowly. He understands Yilin stance. Concession and benefit. He sees this kind of thing all the time in his court. Though mostly such fights are between courtiers. 

He thought of two people in his court. Lord Massey and Lord Oliver rivalry is pretty well known in the court of Arrandy. Silas on the other hand….is on a level of his own. 

Arial always offer Silas many lands and title but he rejects most of it…though that is mostly because he does not want to be saddled with administering too much. 

He said that he was born for the art of politics, not statesmanship. And Arial actually agrees with him on his self-assessment

Silas can make black turn to white, white turn to black only by his words. In his youth Arial discovered the power of words and what it does to people.

The Oration of Silas is still a story passed down by his juniors inside the University of Acro.

Arial learn many things from Silas, as Silas learn many things for Arial. While Arial have respect for Silas, Silas have loyalty for him. 

In a way, apart from his family and friends, Arial truly believe in Silas. He is Arial eyes and ears.

If he entered the Academy, Arial believes Silas would have been sorted into the Ravens. 

Though Arial was amused by some similarity of the way the martial arts world operates, he also understands its differences